Democrats Urge Trump to Withdraw OSC Nominee
Democrats in Congress are pressing President Trump to pull back the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel (OSC). Recent reports shed light on troubling text messages where Ingrassia critiqued Martin Luther King Jr. and suggested he sometimes has “Nazi influences.”
Leading the charge are Rep. Bennie Thompson from Mississippi and Rep. Robert Garcia from California, who are the top Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee and the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, respectively. They addressed a letter to the president, calling for Ingrassia’s removal from federal civil service and for Trump to rescind the nomination.
A Senate confirmation hearing for Ingrassia is set for Thursday.
Democrats highlighted “racist messages” alleged by Politico, including Ingrassia’s past ties to white supremacist Nick Fuentes. They also noted that he was once involved in a sexual harassment investigation while serving as the White House liaison to the Department of Homeland Security, although the complaint was later dropped by the woman who filed it.
Thompson and Garcia expressed concern, stating that Ingrassia’s behavior creates a risky environment for women and that his proposed promotion to special counsel undermines the integrity of the department and the respect of the American people.
Specific text messages cited in the report included phrases like, “I have Nazi tendencies at times. I admit that,” as well as a disturbing comment about trusting “Chinese or Indians.” In his messages, Ingrassia reportedly stated, “We need qualified white men in leadership positions… The Founding Fathers were wrong that all men were created equal… We need to reject that part of our tradition.”
Democrats argued that such statements reveal his bias, making him unfit to enforce the law fairly.
Thompson further condemned the situation, remarking that it is outrageous for someone with these allegations to receive a promotion. He called for the immediate withdrawal of Ingrassia’s nomination.
Ingrassia’s attorney, Edward Andrew Palczyk, refrained from confirming the validity of the text but argued that it was meant in a humorous way. He suggested that Ingrassia has strong support from the Jewish community, distancing him from the accusations.
Palczyk mentioned the challenge of verifying leaked messages that may be manipulated or taken out of context.
Democrats also referenced the earlier sexual harassment investigation, which led to the temporary revocation of Ingrassia’s access to DHS headquarters, as further grounds for concern regarding his tenure in federal service.
They voiced that Ingrassia’s nomination reflects a troubling attitude toward women’s safety and undermines the integrity of federal systems.
Palczyk completely denied the harassment claims, insisting that Ingrassia has never, in any capacity, harassed a colleague.
Thompson and Garcia argued that Ingrassia is unqualified for the OSC role, emphasizing that at just 30 years old, he is a recent law school graduate with less legal experience than many applicants for entry-level positions in federal agencies.
To foster a healthier environment in the DHS and OSC, they urged for Ingrassia’s removal and the immediate withdrawal of his nomination, denouncing it as an affront to women and minorities alike.
The White House has not yet responded to requests for comment.
Ingrassia was on track for a Senate confirmation hearing earlier in July, but his name was removed from the agenda without explanation. The White House claimed that it had not officially withdrawn his nomination.
Despite the turmoil, an administration official said at the time that Ingrassia remains a nominee and anticipates a swift confirmation due to the president’s confidence in his capabilities.
