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New US ambassador to France gets approved

AFP/The Local
AFP/The Local - [email protected]
New US ambassador to France gets approved
Jane Hartley, left, has gotten the OK of US lawmakers to be the next ambassador to France. Photo: AFP

American lawmakers gave their OK on Tuesday for Jane Hartley, a top Obama fundraiser, to become the United State's new top diplomat in France.

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The US Senate on Tuesday confirmed Jane Hartley, a top fundraiser for President Barack Obama's re-election campaign, as Washington's new ambassador to France.

Hartley will be the second woman to hold the Paris position, following Pamela Harriman's posting as president Bill Clinton's envoy to France from 1993 to 1997.

The job as ambassador to France is often filled through the political appointment of a leading presidential donor, or bundler, and Hartley fits the bill.

She helped raise $519,000 for Obama's successful 2012 re-election effort, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

Hartley, 64, currently heads the Observatory Group, an economic consulting firm. She has held various Democratic political positions, including in the administration of president Jimmy Carter, and has served as an executive for several US media and financial companies.

Her husband, Ralph Schlosstein, is a prominent investment banker, and the couple have held fundraisers for the president.

Hartley, who was confirmed by voice vote, will serve concurrently as US ambassador to Monaco.

Her nomination in June came amid controversy over the time-honored practice of rewarding donors with ambassadorships.

Obama bundler, George Tsunis, was nominated to be envoy to Norway and stumbled badly at his January confirmation hearing, leading some lawmakers to question his qualifications.

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