Gavin Howe
Charles Kushner, a prominent real estate developer and the father of Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law, has a complicated legal history. In 2005, he was convicted of witness tampering by targeting his brother-in-law, William Schulder, who was cooperating with federal investigators. Kushner hired a prostitute to seduce Schulder and sent the secretly recorded footage to his sister, Esther Schulder. Despite his legal troubles, Kushner was pardoned by Trump and nominated as the US ambassador to France in 2025, sparking controversy due to his previous conviction.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | William Schulder |
| Relationship | Husband of Charles Kushner's sister, Esther Schulder |
| Occupation | Not mentioned |
| Role in Charles Kushner's conviction | Cooperated with federal investigators against Charles Kushner |
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What You'll Learn
- Charles Kushner's brother-in-law, William Schulder, was targeted by Kushner
- Kushner hired a prostitute to seduce Schulder and recorded the encounter
- Kushner sent the tape to his sister, William Schulder's wife
- Kushner was pardoned by President Trump in 2020
- Kushner is the father of Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law
Charles Kushner's brother-in-law, William Schulder, was targeted by Kushner
Charles Kushner, an American real estate developer and disbarred attorney, is the brother-in-law of William Schulder, who is married to Kushner's sister, Esther Schulder. In 2005, Kushner was convicted of illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion, and witness tampering, for which he served two years in prison. The witness tampering charge specifically arose from Kushner's retaliation against his brother-in-law, William Schulder.
Kushner discovered that Schulder, his sister's husband, was cooperating with federal investigators against him. Seeking revenge and intimidation, Kushner hired a prostitute to seduce Schulder. He arranged for the sexual encounter to be recorded and sent the tape to his sister, Esther. This incident was not an isolated act, as Kushner also made false statements to the Federal Election Commission and admitted to devising a scheme to retaliate against his sister and her husband. Kushner's actions were described by former New Jersey Governor and U.S. Attorney Chris Christie as "one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes" he ever prosecuted.
Kushner's sentence included two years in prison, of which he served 14 months at the Federal Prison Camp in Montgomery, Alabama. He then completed his sentence at a halfway house in Newark, New Jersey, and was released on August 25, 2006. As a result of his conviction, Kushner was disbarred and prohibited from practising law in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. Despite his legal troubles, Kushner maintained his business interests and continued to manage his real estate empire.
In December 2020, Kushner received a full and unconditional pardon from President Donald Trump, who cited his record of "reform" and "charity." This pardon sparked controversy, given Kushner's position as the father of Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and his complicated legal history. Despite the pardon, Kushner's past mistakes continued to attract attention, particularly as he transitioned into diplomatic roles, such as his nomination as the U.S. ambassador to France.
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Kushner hired a prostitute to seduce Schulder and recorded the encounter
Charles Kushner is the brother-in-law of William Schulder, who is married to Kushner's sister, Esther Schulder. Kushner is an American real estate developer and disbarred attorney who founded Kushner Companies in 1985. He is also the father of Jared Kushner, former White House senior adviser to President Donald Trump and husband of Trump's eldest daughter, Ivanka.
In 2005, Kushner was convicted of illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion, and witness tampering. The witness-tampering charge arose from Kushner's retaliation against his brother-in-law, William Schulder, who was cooperating with federal investigators against Kushner. To retaliate, Kushner hired a prostitute to seduce Schulder and arranged to record the sexual encounter. He paid a private investigator $25,000 to arrange the seduction and videotaping and admitted to personally recruiting the prostitute. Kushner then sent the tape to his sister, Esther.
Kushner's actions were part of a scheme to intimidate and seek revenge on his brother-in-law and sister for their cooperation with federal authorities. He pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to two years in prison, serving 14 months at the Federal Prison Camp in Montgomery, Alabama. After his release, Kushner shifted his business focus from New Jersey to New York City. In 2007, Kushner Companies purchased the 666 Fifth Avenue building in Manhattan for $1.8 billion.
The prosecution of Kushner was overseen by then-U.S. Attorney Chris Christie, who later became a prominent surrogate for President Trump and head of his transition team. Christie described Kushner's crimes as "disgraceful and reprehensible" and defended his decision to prosecute, even writing a book centered on the case, titled "Let Me Finish." Despite this, Kushner received a full and unconditional pardon from President Trump in December 2020, citing his record of "reform" and "charity."
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Kushner sent the tape to his sister, William Schulder's wife
Charles Kushner, a prominent real estate developer and the father of Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, made headlines in 2005 when he was convicted of illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion, and witness tampering. The witness tampering charge stemmed from Kushner's retaliation against his brother-in-law, William Schulder, who was married to Kushner's sister, Esther Schulder.
Upon discovering that William Schulder was cooperating with federal investigators, Kushner devised a scheme for revenge. He hired a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law and arranged for the encounter to be secretly recorded. Kushner then sent the tape to his sister, William Schulder's wife. This act of witness tampering led to Kushner's conviction and subsequent sentencing to two years in prison.
The incident caused a significant scandal and was described by former New Jersey Governor and U.S. Attorney Chris Christie as "one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes" he ever prosecuted. Kushner pleaded guilty to the charges and served his sentence, including time in a federal prison camp in Alabama.
Despite his criminal past, Kushner received a full pardon from President Donald Trump in December 2020, citing his charitable work and record of reform. This pardon sparked controversy, particularly when Trump nominated Kushner to serve as the U.S. ambassador to France during his second administration. Kushner's nomination and confirmation by the Senate generated mixed reactions, with some questioning his suitability for the role due to his previous transgressions.
In his defense, Kushner acknowledged his mistakes and expressed his willingness to move forward. He stated that his past experiences have made him a better person with improved judgment and values, which he believed qualified him for the ambassador role. Kushner's confirmation as the U.S. ambassador to France was ultimately secured with a vote of 51-45.
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Kushner was pardoned by President Trump in 2020
Charles Kushner is the father of Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of former US President Donald Trump. In 2005, Kushner was convicted of illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion, and witness tampering. He was sentenced to two years in prison and served 14 months at Federal Prison Camp in Alabama. The witness tampering charge arose from Kushner's retaliation against his brother-in-law, William Schulder, who was cooperating with federal investigators against Kushner.
On December 23, 2020, President Trump pardoned Kushner, citing his devotion to "important philanthropic organizations and causes," as well as his record of "reform" and "charity." The pardon was part of a late-hour clemency spree during the final days of Trump's presidency, which included a slew of campaign aides and allies. Kushner's case had been championed by Matt Schlapp, chairman of the American Conservative Union, and others.
The pardon of Kushner, a convicted felon, was controversial and sparked backlash. Some sources noted that it was rare, if not unprecedented, to name a convicted felon as an ambassador. Kushner was nominated by President Trump to serve as the US ambassador to France and confirmed by the Senate in 2025. Kushner's complicated legal history and his relationship to Trump through his son Jared's marriage to Ivanka Trump made him a contentious candidate to represent the US in Europe.
Despite the controversy, Kushner expressed that his past mistakes made him more qualified for the role of ambassador. He acknowledged that he had made serious mistakes and paid a heavy price for them. Kushner's nomination and confirmation highlight the pattern of Trump selecting people close to his family or those of proven loyalty.
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Kushner is the father of Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law
Charles Kushner, born on May 16, 1954, is an American real estate developer and disbarred attorney. He is the father of Jared Kushner, who is married to Ivanka Trump, the daughter of former US President Donald Trump. In 2020, Trump pardoned Kushner, whose conviction had resulted in him being disbarred in three states. Trump then nominated Kushner to serve as the US ambassador to France and Monaco, a role confirmed by the Senate in 2025.
Kushner founded Kushner Companies, a real estate firm, in 1985. The company grew to include more than 10,000 residential apartments, a homebuilding business, commercial and industrial properties, and a community bank. Kushner was recognised as the New Jersey Entrepreneur of the Year by Ernst & Young in 1999. He also served on the boards of several institutions, including NYU and Harvard University, to which he donated $2.5 million in 1998.
In 2005, Kushner pleaded guilty to 18 counts of illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion, and witness tampering. The witness tampering charge arose from Kushner's retaliation against his sister's husband, William Schulder, who was cooperating with federal investigators. Kushner hired a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law and recorded the encounter, sending the tape to his sister. He served two years in prison and was released in 2006.
Despite his complicated legal history, Kushner was chosen by Trump to serve as an ambassador due to his reputation as a "strong advocate" for the country and his qualifications as a "business leader, philanthropist, and dealmaker". Kushner's nomination sparked some controversy, with Senator Cory Booker facing backlash for voting in favour of Kushner's confirmation.
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Frequently asked questions
Charles Kushner is an American real estate developer and disbarred attorney who founded Kushner Companies in 1985. He is also the father of Jared Kushner, Donald Trump's son-in-law.
Charles Kushner is the father of Jared Kushner, who is married to Ivanka Trump, the daughter of former US President Donald Trump.
Charles Kushner hired a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law, William Schulder, who was cooperating with federal investigators in a campaign finance inquiry. He recorded the encounter and sent the tape to his sister, William Schulder's wife.
Charles Kushner targeted his brother-in-law because he discovered that William Schulder was cooperating with federal investigators against him.
Yes, in 2005, Charles Kushner pleaded guilty to 18 counts of illegal campaign contributions, tax evasion, and witness tampering. He was sentenced to two years in prison and served time in a federal prison camp in Alabama. He was pardoned by President Donald Trump in December 2020.
