Charles Kushner, the father of Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law, assured U.S. senators on Thursday that he could be relied upon to demonstrate sound judgment if appointed as the U.S. ambassador to France, despite his previous conviction for tax evasion, witness tampering, and other federal offenses. Kushner, a prominent real estate developer, acknowledged during a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, “I made a very serious mistake and I paid a heavy price for that mistake.” In 2005, he pleaded guilty to 18 charges, including tax evasion and retaliating against a federal witness, serving the maximum two-year sentence allowed under his plea agreement.
Prosecutors revealed that Kushner had discovered his brother-in-law was cooperating with a federal investigation and had hired a prostitute to lure him to a motel, where the encounter was secretly recorded and later sent to his sister, the brother-in-law’s wife. In 2020, Trump granted Kushner a pardon. When nominating him for the prestigious ambassadorial role in Paris in November 2024, Trump lauded him as “a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, and dealmaker.”
Kushner is anticipated to receive confirmation, as Trump’s Republican party holds a 53-47 majority in the Senate and has approved all of Trump’s nominees since the beginning of his second term on January 20. In response to questions from Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the leading Democrat on the committee, Kushner highlighted the significant charitable contributions made by him and his wife, stating that ultimately, he would be judged by God.
He expressed confidence that his past experiences would enhance his capabilities as an ambassador, asserting, “I believe my past mistakes have improved my judgment, my perspective on life, and my values, making me more qualified for this role.” Typically, the U.S. ambassador to France is a significant donor or a close associate of the sitting president.
