WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump said Saturday he intends to nominate real estate developer Charles Kushner, father of Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, to serve as ambassador to France.
Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post, calling Charles Kushner “a tremendous business leader, philanthropist, & dealmaker."
Kushner is the founder of Kushner Companies, a real estate firm. Jared Kushner is a former White House senior adviser to Trump who is married to Trump’s eldest daughter, Ivanka.
The elder Kushner was pardoned by Trump in December 2020 after pleading guilty years earlier to tax evasion and making illegal campaign donations.
Prosecutors alleged that after Charles Kushner discovered his brother-in-law was cooperating with federal authorities in an investigation, he hatched a scheme for revenge and intimidation.
Kushner hired a prostitute to lure his brother-in-law, then arranged to have the encounter in a New Jersey motel room recorded with a hidden camera and the recording sent to his own sister, the man’s wife, prosecutors said.
Kushner eventually pleaded guilty to 18 counts including tax evasion and witness tampering. He was sentenced in 2005 to two years in prison — the most he could receive under a plea deal, but less than what Chris Christie, the U.S. attorney for New Jersey at the time and later governor and Republican presidential candidate, had sought.
Christie has blamed Jared Kushner for his firing from Trump’s transition team in 2016, and has called Charles Kushner’s offenses “one of the most loathsome, disgusting crimes that I prosecuted when I was U.S. attorney.”
Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009.
Tucker reported from Newtown, Pennsylvania.
FILE - Charles Kushner arrives for the funeral of Ivana Trump, July 20, 2022, in New York. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)
BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Barcelona lost at home for the first time this season when the Liga leader was stunned by Las Palmas 2-1 on Saturday.
Sandro Ramirez and Fábio Silva scored for the Canary Islands club on either side of Raphinha’s equalizer to give Las Palmas its first win at Barcelona in more than 50 years.
Barcelona played superbly in the first three months under new coach Hansi Flick and was flying high after convincing victories over Real Madrid in the domestic competition and Bayern Munich in the Champions League. It had won all eight of its home games.
But it has gone three rounds of La Liga without a win. Before Las Palmas, it fell at Real Sociedad 1-0 and drew at Celta Vigo 2-2 after squandering a two-goal lead in the final minutes.
The dropped points mean Madrid, despite its own troubles, especially in the Champions League, can move ahead of Barcelona in La Liga. It trails Barcelona by four points with two games in hand.
“I don’t care about scoring, I care about winning,” Raphinha said after his standout performance was unable to end Barcelona's slump.
“We have to take a hard look at what we are doing wrong. We have slipped in our form and are letting games get away form us. We have our next game on Tuesday (at Mallorca), and we need to turn this around so we can win the league.”
Atletico Madrid was only two points behind Barcelona in second place — and with the same number of games played — after Antoine Griezmann scored a gem of a goal in a 5-0 demolition of last-placed Valladolid.
Las Palmas savored its first victory at Barcelona since the 1971-72 season and just its third victory at the Catalan club overall. The other visits by the modest side that wears all yellow uniforms to Barcelona have ended in 34 defeats and three draws.
“We are thrilled because we have made history,” Sandro said. “When you start the season you think that these games are usually going to end in wins for the bigger side, but if there is one thing we believe in is our capacity to work hard all week to get results like this.”
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal returned from a right ankle injury that sidelined him for three weeks. Yamal appeared as a halftime substitute and Jasper Cillessen saved his best shot. The Las Palmas goalkeeper also palmed a Raphinha free kick over his bar in the final minutes.
Sandro, a former Barcelona youth player, capped a fine five-pass buildup by Las Palmas from its own box as it masterfully undid Barcelona’s high pressure in the 49th minute.
Raphinha had already hit the crossbar in the first half before he equalized in the 61st. The Brazil forward took a short pass from Pedri just outside the area, skirted across the edge and drilled a shot between two defenders.
But Barcelona was caught pushing forward for a second goal when Silva controlled a ball from Javi Muñoz and sent in a shot bouncing past Iñaki Peña in the 67th.
The unexpected loss dampened Barcelona’s celebration of its 125th anniversary, which included the debut of its new mascot “Cat,” a large, yellow feline wearing its team kit.
Barcelona lost left back Alejandro Balde early in the game when he couldn’t continue after he crashed into Sandro at full speed. Balde appeared to hurt his upper chest or neck area when he ran into Sandro’s shoulder. He was carried off on a stretcher and replaced by Gerard Martín.
Griezmann scored one of the goals of the season when the forward exchanged a quick one-two with Julián Alvarez and used a sleek touch of the inside of his boot to roll the ball with him as he spun before dinking it over the Valladolid goalkeeper.
That was the visitor's fourth goal. Shortly after, Valladolid fans stood up and applauded when Griezmann was substituted.
“That is what every players wants, to make people enjoy what we do. So I appreciate their warmth,” Griezmann said.
Atletico also got goals from Alvarez, Clement Lenglet, Rodrigo de Paul, and Alexander Sorloth.
Espanyol beat Celta 3-1 to end a streak of four losses in the league and relieve pressure on coach Manolo González.
Alaves also drew with Leganes 1-1 at home.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Las Palmas' players celebrate their team's 2-1 victory over Barcelona at the end of a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Las Palmas' players celebrate after their teammate Sandro Ramirez scoring the opening goal against Barcelona during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's mascot Cat waves a flag prior to a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Las Palmas at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Raphinha kicks a ball challenged by Las Palmas' Mika Marmol during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's players react after the second goal of Las Palmas during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Las Palmas' Fabio Silva celebrates after scoring his side's 2nd goal against Barcelona during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Raphinha, right, and Las Palmas' Mika Marmol fight for the ball during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Lamine Yamal gestures during a Spanish La Liga soccer match against Las Palmas at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Raphinha reacts after missing a chance to score a goal against Las Palmas during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's head coach Hansi Flick waits for the beginning of the the Spanish La Liga soccer match against Las Palmas at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Las Palmas' Viti Rozada, front, and Barcelona's Pedri fight for the ball during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Gavi reacts after missing a chance to score a goal against Las Palmas during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Las Palmas' Fabio Silva, left, and Barcelona's Inigo Martinez fight for the ball during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski, right, reacts after missing a chance to score a goal against Las Palmas during a Spanish La Liga soccer match at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Saturday Nov. 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort)
