Paul Ingrassia, President Trump’s pick to lead the Office of Special Counsel, withdrew his nomination late Tuesday after reports that he sent racist texts demeaning the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and declaring he had “a Nazi streak.”
The move comes just days before Mr. Ingrassia’s confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
“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,” Mr. Ingrassia wrote on X.
“I appreciate the overwhelming support that I have received throughout this process and will continue to serve President Trump and his administration to Make America Great Again!” he said.
Mr. Ingrassia’s decision came after it was clear that his nomination was in trouble with Republicans.
“He’s not gonna pass,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune, South Dakota Republican, told reporters on Monday.
It appeared that at least four Republican senators opposed his nomination, making it impossible for him to be confirmed if all Democrats also vote against him.
The texts, as reported by Politico, were sent to members of Young Republican Clubs and said the King holiday should be “tossed into the seventh circle of hell.”
Mr. Trump picked Mr. Ingrassia, 30, to lead the office tasked with enforcing ethics rules and protecting federal whistleblowers.
The Washington Times reached out to the White House for comment.
Two senior Democrats — Reps. Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi and Robert Garcia of California — had formally urged Mr. Trump to withdraw Mr. Ingrassia’s nomination based on the texts and prior allegation of sexual harassment stemming from his time as White House liaison to the Department of Homeland Security.
“Keeping Paul Ingrassia on the federal payroll is a direct threat to the women who work with him and to every public servant who believes in a safe and respectful workplace,” the lawmakers said. “It’s shameful that someone under investigation for harassment — and now exposed for sending racist messages — would be rewarded with a promotion.”
Mr. Ingrassia graduated from Cornell Law School in 2022 and, during the 2024 election, promoted a false claim that former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley was ineligible to run for president.
Mr. Trump shared the theory on his social media platform.
