Paul Ingrassia, President Trump’s pick to lead the Office of Special Counsel, has withdrawn from a Senate hearing on his nomination after allegations surfaced that he sent offensive text messages. Among the messages was one where he reportedly conceded he has “a Nazi streak,” leading several GOP senators to distance themselves from his candidacy.
Ingrassia announced on X that he is withdrawing from the Thursday morning Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing because, “unfortunately I do not have enough Republican votes at this time.” He added that he “will continue to serve President Trump and this administration to Make America Great Again.” Notably, he did not address the text messages, which were published this week by Politico.
Previously, Ingrassia served as the White House’s liaison to the Department of Homeland Security. The future of his nomination remains uncertain, and it is unclear whether the Senate hearing will be rescheduled.
President Trump nominated the 30-year-old attorney to lead the Office of Special Counsel in May, describing him as a “highly respected attorney, writer, and Constitutional Scholar.” The Office of Special Counsel, which handles whistleblower complaints and investigates misconduct involving the federal workforce, has been without a Senate-confirmed leader since Trump dismissed former head Hampton Dellinger.
Ingrassia has faced bipartisan criticism since Politico reported on Monday that he allegedly sent incendiary texts in a group chat. Among the messages, he purportedly referred to Martin Luther King Jr. as “the 1960s George Floyd” and admitted to having “a Nazi streak in me from time to time.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters he does not believe Ingrassia will be confirmed, according to the Associated Press. After several Republican senators indicated they would not support the nomination, Thune stated, “He’s not going to pass.”
Ingrassia’s lawyer, Edward Paltzik, told CBS News, “We do not concede the authenticity of any of these purported messages,” citing the potential for manipulation by artificial intelligence. Paltzik further argued that even if the texts are genuine, “they clearly read as self-deprecating and satirical humor making fun of the fact that liberals outlandishly and routinely call MAGA supporters ‘Nazis.'” He added that Ingrassia “has incredible support from the Jewish community because Jews know that Mr. Ingrassia is the furthest thing from a Nazi.”
CBS News has reached out to the White House for comment.
Ingrassia has previously sparked controversy, including for social media posts that appeared to praise Russian President Vladimir Putin and for calling January 6 a day that should be made a national holiday. He also criticized the conservative group Turning Point USA for removing Nick Fuentes, who has a history of white nationalist and antisemitic comments, arguing that conservatives should “allow for dissident voices.”
Additionally, Politico has reported an allegation that Ingrassia sexually harassed a coworker within the Trump administration. Paltzik stated, “My client has never harassed any coworkers, female or otherwise, sexually or otherwise in connection with any employment.”
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-nominee-paul-ingrassia-withdraws-senate-hearing-offensive-texts/
