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President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Office of Special Counsel withdrew Tuesday after offensive text messages surfaced showing him disparaging Martin Luther King Jr. and describing himself as having “a Nazi streak,” prompting an open revolt from Senate Republicans.
Paul Ingrassia, a conservative attorney who has served as a White House liaison to the Department of Homeland Security, was slated for a Senate confirmation hearing this week. But after Politico published a report Monday on messages he allegedly sent in a group chat, his support on Capitol Hill quickly evaporated.
“I will be withdrawing myself from Thursday’s HSGAC hearing to lead the Office of Special Counsel because unfortunately I do not have enough Republican votes at this time,” Ingrassia posted online, referring to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “I appreciate the overwhelming support that I have received throughout the process and will continue to serve President Trump and the administration to Make America Great Again!”
The White House confirmed his withdrawal shortly after. “He is no longer the nominee,” a spokesperson said.
The texts reported by Politico included a message in which Ingrassia said the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday should be “tossed into the seventh circle of hell” and another in which he said he has “a Nazi streak” at times. His attorney told the outlet the messages may have been “manipulated or missing context,” but did not deny their authenticity.
The revelations led to rare dissent within Trump’s party.
“I’m a no,” said Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., a committee member. “It never should have got this far.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., also urged the White House to withdraw the nomination, saying it was time to “move on.”
Democrats called for Trump to fire Ingrassia from his current administration post. “This isn’t anywhere near enough,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., on social media.
The Office of Special Counsel is a federal investigative agency that protects whistleblowers and enforces the Hatch Act, which limits political activity by government employees.
Ingrassia’s failed nomination adds to a string of Trump appointments withdrawn amid controversy. Earlier this year, Trump withdrew nominations for attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz, U.S. attorney nominee Ed Martin Jr., and Bureau of Labor Statistics nominee E.J. Antoni after bipartisan backlash.
In a May post, Trump had praised Ingrassia as a “highly respected attorney, writer and Constitutional Scholar.”
