<h1>Ambassador summoned after accusing host government of failing to combat antisemitism; deputy attended, US publicly backed him; past pardon noted</h1> A US ambassador to France was formally summoned by the French foreign ministry after sending a letter to the French president accusing France of insufficiently combating antisemitism; France deemed the letter an unacceptable interference with its internal affairs and a violation of international law. The ambassador did not attend the meeting and sent his deputy, who was told the allegations ignored French efforts to counter antisemitism. The US government publicly supported the ambassador's statements. The diplomat's background includes a prior federal conviction for tax evasion and witness tampering, later followed by a presidential pardon, which is noted in coverage of the dispute.