Paul Ingrassia arrives ahead of President Trump’s address during a summer gathering on the South Lawn of the White House, June 4, 2025, Washington, D.C.
Alex Brandon/AP
WASHINGTON – The individual nominated by President Donald Trump to head a key federal oversight agency stepped down from the nomination process Tuesday evening following the emergence of controversial text messages and a backlash from Republican senators.
Paul Ingrassia, who was put forward to lead the Office of Special Counsel, had been slated for a confirmation hearing this week. However, revelations surfaced on Monday revealing text exchanges in which Ingrassia disparaged the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, suggesting it should be “cast into the seventh circle of hell.” Additionally, he referred to himself as having “a Nazi streak” in the same conversation.
These disclosures prompted several GOP senators, including some of Trump’s most loyal conservative supporters, to publicly oppose his nomination.
Ingrassia announced his withdrawal via an online statement: “I am withdrawing from Thursday’s Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs hearing to lead the Office of Special Counsel because I currently lack sufficient Republican backing. I am grateful for the strong support I have received throughout this process and remain committed to serving President Trump and the administration’s mission to Make America Great Again!”
When asked about Ingrassia’s decision to step back, the White House responded succinctly: “He is no longer the nominee.” This statement followed remarks from Senate Majority Leader John Thune, who expressed hope that the administration would retract Ingrassia’s nomination amid growing GOP dissent.
Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson, a member of the committee responsible for reviewing the nomination, declared, “I am opposed. This nomination should never have advanced this far.”
While Republicans have generally succeeded in confirming most of Trump’s nominees despite Democratic resistance, there have been occasional moments when GOP members have quietly pushed back, signaling boundaries to their support.
For instance, Matt Gaetz withdrew shortly after being named Trump’s initial pick for attorney general. Similarly, in May, Trump retracted Ed Martin Jr.’s nomination for U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., due to bipartisan concerns over Martin’s limited legal background and his backing of January 6 rioters.
More recently, the White House pulled E.J. Antoni’s nomination to lead the Bureau of Labor Statistics after the previous director was dismissed following an underwhelming jobs report.
Despite Ingrassia’s withdrawal, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer criticized the move as insufficient, urging President Trump to dismiss Ingrassia from his current role as a White House liaison at the Department of Homeland Security.
Schumer stated on social media, “This action falls far short of what is necessary.”
According to the texts obtained by Politico, Ingrassia compared Martin Luther King Jr. to a 1960s version of George Floyd and suggested that the holiday commemorating King should be abolished and “sent to the seventh circle of hell.”
Ingrassia’s attorney told Politico that the messages might have been altered or taken out of context, without confirming their authenticity.
The Office of Special Counsel plays a critical role in investigating and prosecuting cases to protect federal employees and whistleblowers from retaliation. It also enforces the Hatch Act, which limits partisan political activities by government workers.
In May, President Trump praised Ingrassia on social media, describing him as a “highly respected attorney, writer, and Constitutional scholar.”
