Washington:

The US Senate confirmed Charles Kushner on Monday. He’s the father of Jared Kushner, who is married to President Donald Trump’s daughter. Notably, Charles was pardoned by Trump after being convicted of witness tampering and tax evasion.

The vote stood at 51 in favor, while Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski was the sole Republican to resist the confirmation.

Back in 2005, Kushner pleaded guilty to 18 federal charges, including tax evasion, retaliating against federal witnesses, and lying to the Federal Election Commission. He ended up serving two years in prison, which was the maximum sentence under the plea deal.

Prosecutors discussed how Kushner had discovered that his brother-in-law was cooperating with federal authorities. In a dramatic twist, he hired a prostitute, set up a hidden camera in a motel, and subsequently sent the footage to his sister, the brother-in-law’s wife.

In 2020, Trump issued a pardon for Kushner, whose son is wed to Ivanka Trump.

Kushner’s confirmation wasn’t unexpected given that Trump’s party holds a 53-47 edge in the Senate. They’ve been confirming all of Trump’s candidates since his second term began on January 20.

During his confirmation hearing, Kushner acknowledged that he had made a “serious mistake” in the past, suggesting this experience could enhance his role as ambassador by fostering better judgment.