Trump picks in-law Charles Kushner in continuation of nepotism in first term
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Donald Trump is returning to the White House with his signature nepotism, having picked as United States ambassador to France his father-in-law Charles Kushner, father of Jared who is married to Trump’s daughter Ivanka, both of who served in his first presidential administration.
Trump’s latest controversial choice comes on the heels of the withdrawal of Matt Gaetz as Attorney General nominee last week amid a gale of criticism over his alleged sexual abuse of minors and illegal use.
Another Trump nominee reeling under unfavourable media coverage, Pete Hegseth for defence secretary, also faces allegation of sexual assault against a woman he allegedly paid in a settlement.
Charles Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a New York based real estate company who was convicted of preparing false tax returns, retaliating against a cooperating witness, and making false statements to the Federal Election Commission in 2005.
He served more than 16 months of a two-year sentence in federal prison and a halfway program before he was released in 2006.
Trump pardoned Charles Kushner in 2020, saying at the time that Kushner was devoted to philanthropic organizations and causes, per by USA TODAY.
The nomination appears to be the first administration position that Trump has formally offered to a relative since his re-election.
Trump on Saturday announced two more picks – choosing former aide, Kash Patel, to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), an agency Patel has often criticised.
And separately, Chad Chronister, sheriff of Florida’s Hillsborough County, was nominated as head of the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA).
Alongside many other presidential nominees, ambassador appointments must be approved by a majority vote in the US Senate.
Trump announced in a Truth Social post at the weekend that “I am pleased to nominate Charles Kushner, of New Jersey, to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to France. He is a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker, who will be a strong advocate representing our Country & its interests.
“His son, Jared, worked closely with me in the White House, in particular on Operation Warp Speed, Criminal Justice Reform, & the Abraham Accords.”
CNN adds that former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie – who ran against Trump in the Republican primary last year – and led the case against Charles Kushner as the US attorney for New Jersey, said in 2019 that Kushner committed “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes” he had prosecuted.
Kushner was under investigation at the time for making illegal campaign contributions and targeted his brother-in-law, William Schulder, a former employee turned witness for federal prosecutors in their case against the Democratic donor.
As part of the plot, Kushner hired a prostitute to lure Schulder into having sex in a motel as a hidden camera rolled. A tape of the encounter was then sent to Kushner’s sister and Schulder’s wife. Ultimately, the intimidation stunt failed, and the woman turned on Kushner.
Trump’s latest announcement comes as Jared Kushner has said he does not plan on serving in Trump’s second administration. Jared disclosed at an event in Miami in February that he has been “very clear” in his desire to focus on his private equity firm “at this phase” in his life.
Jared, however, is seen as being pivotal to the incoming administration’s Middle East efforts, even though he is not likely to take a formal job within it, regional diplomats and Trump allies told CNN earlier this month.
Since Trump left office in 2021, Jared and his wife Ivanka have moved to Miami and largely exited politics. He founded an investment fund, Affinity Partners, shortly after leaving Washington with major backing from sovereign wealth funds in the Gulf.
During Trump’s first tenure, Jared’s fingerprints were on many, if not all, of the administration’s agenda items, including immigration, relations with China, the Middle East and the White House’s coronavirus response.
He served as an advisor when Trump extended a pardon to Charles Kushner in a batch of announcements that also included pardons for former campaign manager Paul Manafort and former adviser Roger Stone.
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