President Trump’s pick to lead the Office of Special Counsel allegedly bragged about having a “Nazi streak” in a series of disturbing, newly leaked texts — sparking mounting calls for his nomination to be yanked.
Paul Ingrassia, who is set to have his Senate confirmation hearing to head the whistleblower agency on Thursday, fired off the messages in a text exchange with a half-dozen fellow Republicans last year, Politico reported.
“I do have a Nazi streak in me from time to time, I will admit it,” Ingrassia allegedly wrote in one message sent in May 2024.
In another text, Ingrassia reportedly said that the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday belongs in “hell.”
“MLK Jr. was the 1960s George Floyd and his ‘holiday’ should be ended and tossed into the seventh circle of hell where it belongs,” Ingrassia allegedly wrote in January last year.
“No moulignon holidays … From kwanza [sic] to mlk jr day to black history month to Juneteenth,” he is said to have written in another message.
“Every single one needs to be eviscerated.”
Ingrassia’s lawyer has since suggested the texts could have been “manipulated” — and claimed that some were poking fun at liberals.
“Looks like these texts could be manipulated or are being provided with material context omitted.
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,’” the attorney, Edward Andrew Paltzik, said.
“In reality, Mr Ingrassia has incredible support from the Jewish community because Jews know that Mr. Ingrassia is the furthest thing from a Nazi.”
Still, the emergence of the offensive texts has sparked calls for Ingrassia’s nomination to be withdrawn — with Senate Majority Leader John Thune insisting, “he’s not gonna pass.”
Three other Republicans — including Sens. Rick Scott, Ron Johnson and James Lankford — have also implied they will oppose Ingrassia’s confirmation.
“I’m not supporting him,” Scott said. “I can’t imagine how anybody can be antisemitic in this country. It’s wrong.”
