There are increasing demands for President Trump to withdraw his nomination of Paul Ingrassia to lead the Office of Special Counsel. Reports indicate he has made racist comments and described himself as having “Nazi tendencies.”
Ingrassia, who is 30, made these remarks in a text conversation, which Politico revealed on Monday. It was reported that he suggested abolishing Martin Luther King Jr. Day and expressed distrust towards “the Chinese or the Indians.” When confronted by others in the chat, he allegedly stated, “I have Nazi tendencies sometimes. I admit that.” He also emphasized the importance of placing “qualified white men into leadership roles.”
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer from New York called for President Trump to withdraw Ingrassia’s nomination on Tuesday, stating, “These sentences are foul and disqualifying. It’s hard to believe there’s a system in the White House that would allow someone like that to be nominated.”
While the push to withdraw Ingrassia largely comes from Democrats, some Republicans have also shown unease over his nomination. For confirmation, a candidate requires 50 votes, which means Republicans can only have three dissenters if all Democrats oppose an individual.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, suggested on Monday that the White House take a second look at Ingrassia’s nomination. He remarked, “He won’t pass.”
On the same day, Rep. Jamie Raskin, a Democrat from Maryland, added his voice to the calls for Ingrassia’s removal, highlighting that he had also faced accusations of sexual harassment. Ingrassia allegedly canceled a hotel reservation for a female colleague and insisted that she stay with him. Raskin noted, “We’ve known for months that Mr. Ingrassia graduated from law school just three years ago and lacks the necessary qualifications.”
He continued with concerns about Ingrassia’s past praise for Nick Fuentes, a known anti-Semitic and right-wing figure, saying, “It seems you decided to promote Mr. Ingrassia in spite of—or maybe because of—these issues.”
In regards to the controversial remarks, Ingrassia’s lawyer stated he had done nothing wrong and pointed out that the accusations weren’t from a woman he shared a hotel room with. This woman reportedly told Politico that she “never felt uncomfortable.”
Sen. Ron Johnson from Wisconsin, who is on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which is scheduled to review Ingrassia’s nomination on Thursday, expressed that the nomination should indeed be withdrawn.
Sen. Rick Scott from Florida echoed this sentiment, stating he doesn’t support Ingrassia’s nomination.
The Office of the Special Counsel is responsible for safeguarding whistleblowers and enforcing the Hatch Act, which restricts political activities of federal employees. President Trump previously dismissed former special counsel Hampton Dillinger, who had been confirmed for a five-year term.
The White House has not responded to multiple inquiries about Ingrassia’s nomination. However, Trump has previously spoken highly of Ingrassia, claiming he has served effectively in his role as a liaison to the Department of Homeland Security.
Ingrassia has some support, including his mother, who visited after Raskin and Rep. Robert Garcia criticized her son. She requested to speak with Raskin regarding the negative comments and left her business card.
Ingrassia’s past includes controversial remarks regarding right-wing figures, including his work with misogynist Andrew Tate, who has faced serious legal charges. Ingrassia referred to Tate as “the embodiment of ancient ideals of excellence.”
Following these remarks, Democrats on the House Homeland Security Committee joined the call for Ingrassia’s removal. Rep. Bennie Thompson, a Democrat from Mississippi, emphasized the offensive nature of Ingrassia’s previous statements, asserting he should not hold a government position, especially one that investigates discrimination.
Outside of Congress, the National Council of Jewish Women condemned Ingrassia for making anti-Semitic statements, expressing concerns over his capability to protect marginalized communities. The group stated, “Given everything we know about him and his views, Mr. Ingrassia should not lead any office in government.”
