Senate Majority Leader John Thune announced Monday he hopes the White House withdraws Paul Ingrassia’s nomination to lead the Office of Special Counsel, following Politico’s reporting on racist and antisemitic text messages Ingrassia exchanged with Republican operatives.
“He’s not gonna pass,” Thune told reporters.
At least three other Senate Republicans have publicly declared opposition to the confirmation of Ingrassia, a nominee of President Donald Trump: Rick Scott of Florida, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and James Lankford of Oklahoma. Ingrassia remains scheduled to testify Thursday before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email on Monday for comment.
Why It Matters
The swift Republican defection represents a significant political rupture within GOP ranks over the Trump administration’s selection. Under Senate rules, Ingrassia, White House liaison to the Department of Homeland Security, can lose only three Republican votes before requiring Vice President JD Vance to cast a tiebreaker, assuming unanimous Democratic opposition.
With four Republicans now signaling opposition or skepticism, the nomination could face mathematical elimination. GOP senators have already expressed concerns about his background, experience and alleged antisemitism, with one senator delaying Ingrassia’s nomination hearing in July, citing concerns of hostility toward Jews.
“This big thing for our state is, he’s had some statements about antisemitism,” Scott said in a July interview with Politico about Ingrassia.
The report about the text messages of Ingrassia, 30, also comes just one week after a number of Young Republicans were implicated in a scandal over racist, antisemitic and misogynistic comments in leaked chat messages.
What To Know
Politico reported Monday on a text chat that showed Ingrassia saying that the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday should be “tossed into the seventh circle of hell” and that he has “a Nazi streak.”
Edward Andrew Paltzik, attorney for Ingrassia, did not confirm the texts were authentic and said they “could be manipulated or are being provided with material context omitted,” according to the report.
Scott, Johnson and Lankford are all members of the Senate Homeland committee and will have a chance to question Ingrassia Thursday—if Ingrassia’s confirmation hearing proceeds as planned. The senators’ opposition comes amid broader concerns about Ingrassia’s background.
Earlier this month, Politico separately reported that Ingrassia was investigated over a sexual harassment allegation involving a lower-ranking colleague. The peer filed a complaint against him before retracting it.
A spokesperson for Republican U.S. Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky, chair of the Senate Homeland panel, referred questions to the White House about what would come next for the nominee. But Paul told Semafor Monday evening that Ingrassia remained on the witness list and indicated the next move would be up to the White House.
What People Are Saying
Paltzik added: “Even if the texts are authentic, they clearly read as self-deprecating and satirical humor making fun of the fact that liberals outlandishly and routinely call MAGA supporters ‘Nazis.’ In reality, Mr. Ingrassia has incredible support from the Jewish community because Jews know that Mr. Ingrassia is the furthest thing from a Nazi.
“In this age of AI, authentication of allegedly leaked messages, which could be outright falsehoods, doctored, or manipulated, or lacking critical context, is extremely difficult.”
Scott, to reporters on Monday: “I’m not supporting him. I can’t imagine how anybody can be antisemitic in this country. It’s wrong.”
Lankford, also to reporters on Monday: “I have tons of questions for him,” adding that he “can’t imagine supporting that.”
Paul also told Semafor on Monday: “They have to decide if he can go through. I’ve told them to count the votes … the White House needs to make a decision. I’m leaving it up to them.”
What Happens Next?
Ingrassia’s Senate confirmation hearing is still scheduled for Thursday, where he will likely face intense questioning about the text messages and the allegations of antisemitism and sexual harassment.
