President Donald Trump’s pick to lead a federal watchdog agency withdrew his nomination from consideration on Thursday evening.
Paul Ingrassia withdrew from the Office of Special Counsel after Politico reported a text chat of him saying Martin Luther King Jr. Day should be “tossed into the seventh circle of hell.” He also said that he could have a “Nazi streak.”
Ingrassia’s lawyer did not confirm or deny to Politico that the messages were real. His lawyer said they could have been manipulated or missing context.
“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 wrote on Truth Social. “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!” HSGAC is the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs.
Multiple GOP Senators rebuked Ingrassia’s nomination, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune. He hoped Trump would pull Ingrassia’s nomination himself.
Democrats also chimed in. Senator Minority Chuck Schumer called the messages “foul” and “disqualifying, while speaking on the Senate floor.
“And it’s hard to believe there is any process in any White House that would allow such a man through to be nominated,” he added.
Hellbound and Down 