Washington, D.C. — Paul Ingrassia is no longer the nominee to head the Office of Special Counsel after his Senate confirmation prospects collapsed amid reports of racist and antisemitic text messages. Two White House officials confirmed to CNN on Tuesday that the Trump administration had effectively ended his nomination.
Earlier in the evening, Ingrassia announced on social media that he was withdrawing from the confirmation process, saying he lacked enough Republican support in the Senate. “Unfortunately I do not have enough Republican votes at this time,” he wrote, while thanking supporters and pledging to continue serving “President Trump and this administration to Make America Great Again.”
His statement came shortly after Senate Majority Leader John Thune signaled that the White House would likely pull the nomination. “I think they’ll have something official to say about that,” Thune told reporters, adding that “you’ll probably be hearing from them soon.”
Nomination Under Fire
Ingrassia, nominated in May to lead the independent agency responsible for protecting federal whistleblowers and enforcing civil service laws, had faced scrutiny from the moment his name was announced. But the controversy erupted this week following a Politico report revealing racist and extremist messages allegedly sent by Ingrassia in a group chat.
According to Politico, Ingrassia described himself as having “a Nazi streak” and said the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday should be “tossed into the seventh circle of hell.”
One Republican senator, Rick Scott of Florida, had already publicly opposed advancing Ingrassia’s nomination before the Homeland Security Committee, effectively dooming his chances. “No, I do not support him,” Scott said Monday night, signaling that the nomination would fail if all Democrats also voted no.
A White House official told CNN earlier Tuesday that the nomination was “under review,” even as pressure mounted from within the GOP. Thune had already said Monday night that he hoped the administration would withdraw the nomination, adding bluntly, “He’s not going to pass.”
Jewish Group Withdraws Support
Following the reports of racist messages, the Zionist Organization of America, the main Jewish group that had previously supported Ingrassia, pulled its backing.
“If these text revelations are accurate, I have no choice but to immediately withdraw my support,” ZOA President Morton Klein told CNN. “In this time of a surge and growing antisemitism, it is incumbent upon all of us to fight even any hint of antisemitism or racism.”
Ingrassia’s attorney, Edward Andrew Paltzik, questioned the authenticity of the leaked messages, suggesting they may have been manipulated or taken out of context. “However, even if the texts are authentic, they clearly read as self-deprecating and satirical humor making fun of liberals who call MAGA supporters ‘Nazis,’” he said in a statement to Politico.
History of Controversial Views
Ingrassia’s history of inflammatory statements had already drawn concern. CNN’s KFile previously reported on his promotion of conspiracy theories, racially charged remarks, and his praise of a well-known White nationalist and Holocaust denier.
He has also made statements arguing that “straight White men” are the most intelligent demographic and should be prioritized in education. His social media and podcast posts have included harsh attacks on Israel and calls for martial law after Trump’s 2020 election loss.
Despite administration claims that Ingrassia was supported by “many Jewish groups,” most of the organizations listed by the White House in July told CNN they did not back his nomination.
Lack of Experience and Political Ties
Ingrassia, who only became a licensed attorney last year, previously held a brief White House internship during Trump’s first term. Earlier this year, he served as a liaison at the Justice Department before being reassigned to the Department of Homeland Security.
If confirmed, he would have represented a sharp departure from previous OSC leaders, who typically came with extensive managerial or legal experience. Instead, Ingrassia’s background reflected a strong loyalty to Trump and a long record of polarizing rhetoric.
As of Tuesday night, the White House has not announced a replacement nominee for the Office of Special Counsel.