Democrats are demanding to hear from Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), who defied his party to become the only Democrat voting to confirm Charles Kushner as ambassador to France.
Booker joined 50 Republicans to confirm Kushner, with 45 Democrats voting "no."
Kushner is the father of Ivanka Trump's husband, Jared Kushner. The family patriarch was sentenced in 2005 to "two years in prison after pleading guilty to 16 counts of tax fraud, witness retaliation, and making false statements to the Federal Election Commission."
The New Jersey Globe noted that Booker and Charles Kushner have a "long-standing relationship" that saw Kushner donate to Booker's unsuccessful Newark mayoral bid in 2002. He went on to become mayor in 2006.
On Bluesky, attorney @bigesqbae.bsky.social posted to her 23K followers, "So why did Cory Booker vote yes to confirm Charles Kushner to be US AMBASSADOR to France??? @booker.senate.gov EXPLAIN PLEASE."
Commentator Molly Ploofkins wrote, "Cory Booker should spend 24 hours on the Senate floor explaining why he voted to confirm a convicted felon as the U.S. ambassador to France."
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Journalist David Atkins wrote, "I do not understand what possible benefit Cory Booker derives from voting to confirm Charles Kushner. Why???? What is the motivation here?"
Liberal commentator @lebergerdavid.bsky.social wrote, "Cory Booker voted to confirm NJ convicted felon Charles Kushner, the father of Jared Kushner, who was sentenced to prison for tax evasion, illegal campaign contributions and witness tampering to be our ambassador to France. WTF? I really don’t get this."
Others asked what the point was of Booker's all-night filibuster on the Senate floor last month, in protest of the Trump administration.
"Imagine doing a 24 hour filibuster to 'Save Democracy' and then being the only Democrat voting for the financial criminal Kushner bc he raised you a bunch of cash Booker is such a fraud. He's even worse than the openly corrupt because he pretends to be some kind of better angel," wrote political strategist Conor Rogers.
Gabrielle A. Perry, founder of a Louisiana-based nonprofit, wrote, "Cory Booker is riding that sh---- speech as cover for cozying up the fascists."
Chanda Prescod-Weinstein, whose bio described her as a theoretical physicist and Black feminist theorist, compared Booker with the recent ICE protest of Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ).
"Like LaMonica McIver is being charged for protesting an ICE facility and Cory Booker is supporting the ambitions of the Kushner family."
Fellow Democrat, Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) explained her "no" vote.
"Charles Kushner was convicted of making false statements to the FEC and pleaded guilty to tax evasion & witness tampering. And Trump pardoned him. Of course, I voted NO to advance Kushner’s nomination as AMBASSADOR TO FRANCE. We don't need any more Kushners in government."
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Cory Booker voted to confirm a convicted tax cheat & sextortionist
Cory Booker is yet another reminder that no one will save us or this country. We must save ourselves and the country. Resist. Act. Protest.