Senate Majority Leader John Thune has declared that Paul Ingrassia's nomination to lead the Office of Special Counsel is "dead on arrival" in the Senate. This announcement came after a report from Politico revealed alleged racist text messages sent by Ingrassia to a group chat. Ingrassia is scheduled to appear before the Senate Homeland Security Committee this Thursday for his confirmation hearing, where he is expected to face significant opposition.
At least one Republican senator, Rick Scott of Florida, has already expressed his disapproval of Ingrassia's nomination. “No, I do not support him,” Scott stated on Monday night. If all Democrats on the committee oppose Ingrassia and Scott joins them, it could effectively block his nomination. When asked if the White House should withdraw Ingrassia’s nomination, Thune remarked, “I hope so,” emphasizing that he believes Ingrassia “is not going to pass.”
Paul Ingrassia was nominated by President Donald Trump in May to lead the Office of Special Counsel, an independent agency dedicated to protecting federal whistleblowers and enforcing civil service laws. However, his history of racist remarks and promotion of conspiracy theories has drawn significant scrutiny. CNN’s KFile previously reported on Ingrassia's controversial claims, including that straight White men are the most intelligent demographic group. His past comments on social media have included calls for martial law following Trump’s 2020 election loss, in addition to harsh anti-Israel rhetoric directed at the GOP.
Ingrassia has also faced criticism for his connections to Nick Fuentes, a well-known White nationalist and Holocaust denier. His defense of Fuentes' right to post on social media has raised further questions about his suitability for the position. As the confirmation hearing approaches, CNN has reached out to the White House for comment regarding Ingrassia's nomination.
Senate Homeland Security Chairman Rand Paul has refrained from stating whether he will oppose Ingrassia but acknowledged that the administration must consider whether they believe his nomination can proceed. “I think that ultimately, there are a lot of questions on the nomination that the White House has to make a determination on,” Paul told reporters. Other Republican senators have chosen to remain non-committal, expressing a desire to hear Ingrassia’s testimony during the upcoming hearing.
Josh Hawley from Missouri stated, “It sounds like there’s new information out tonight, I haven’t seen,” indicating that he looks forward to the opportunity to question Ingrassia. Ohio’s Sen. Bernie Moreno mentioned that he has yet to fully investigate the situation but expects to learn more during the hearing. Oklahoma Senator James Lankford expressed a desire to meet with Ingrassia again, highlighting that there are “plenty of questions” that need to be addressed following the revelation of the text messages.
The text messages in question, which were obtained by Politico, reportedly include Ingrassia claiming to have “a Nazi streak” and suggesting that Martin Luther King Jr. Day “should be ended and tossed into the seventh circle of hell where it belongs.” Ingrassia's lawyer, Edward Andrew Paltzik, has not confirmed the authenticity of the texts but suggested they were taken out of context, arguing they were meant to be humorous. He stated, “What is certain, though, is that there are individuals who cloak themselves in anonymity while executing their underhanded personal agendas to harm Mr. Ingrassia at all costs.”
As the confirmation hearing approaches, the political landscape surrounding Ingrassia's nomination remains fraught with tension and uncertainty, with the potential for significant implications for the Office of Special Counsel.
