Trump Nomination Likely To Go Up In Flames After Racist Texts Leak

President Donald Trump’s special counsel nomination is poised to crumble after a report alleged he sent disturbing, racist texts in a group chat with GOP operatives and influencers.

Politico published the purported texts from former White House staffer Paul Ingrassia, whose Senate confirmation hearings are set to start Thursday, on Monday. In one message sent in May of last year, Ingrassia allegedly said he had a “Nazi streak,” alarming other members of the six-person chat.

In others sent months earlier, Ingrassia, 30, purportedly complained that “MLK Jr. was the 1960s George Floyd and his ‘holiday’ should be ended and tossed into the seventh circle of hell where it belongs.” More alleged texts showed him using an Italian slur for Black people and saying all holidays celebrating them need to be “eviscerated.”

Politico’s report comes months after Ingrassia’s ties to right-wing extremist Andrew Tate and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes came to light after Trump nominated him in May.

The scandal could mean Ingrassia’s nomination to lead the whistleblower agency is dead in the water. In an interview with HuffPost’s Igor Bobic, a Republican key to his path forward said Trump should rescind it.

Paul Ingrassia arrives before Trump speaks during a summer soiree on the South Lawn of the White House in June.

via Associated Press

“The administration ought to just pull that nomination. I hope that happens,” Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said.

Johnson sits on the Senate Homeland Security Committee, which is set to hear Ingrassia’s testimony this week.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican from South Dakota, echoed Johnson’s calls.

Other Republicans on the Homeland Security Committee told reporters they also plan to reject Ingrassia, including Sens. Rick Scott of Florida and James Lankford of Oklahoma.

Scott raised concerns about Ingrassia over the summer, saying he “had some statements about antisemitism.”

Ingrassia’s lawyer, Edward Andrew Paltzik, initially said the texts were jokes but also questioned their authenticity.

“Looks like these texts could be manipulated or are being provided with material context omitted,” he told Politico. “However, arguendo, 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 a subsequent statement, he suggested the texts could be concocted by artificial intelligence.

“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,” he said. “What is certain, though, is that there are individuals who cloak themselves in anonymity while executing their underhanded personal agendas to harm Mr. Ingrassia at all costs. We do not concede the authenticity of any of these purported messages.”

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee have also called for Trump to withdraw Ingrassia’s nomination, pointing to both the new Politico report and an earlier one about his alleged history of sexual harassment. They also said he is completely unqualified for such a position of power.

“Mr. Ingrassia only recently graduated law school has less legal experience than many of the people who apply for entry-level positions at the organization he is nominated to lead,” they wrote.