Trump Pick Paul Ingrassia Withdraws After Text Leak, Blames Media ‘Hit Pieces’

Paul Ingrassia, a Trump administration official tapped by the president to lead the Office of the Special Counsel, withdrew his name from consideration on Tuesday following a POLITICO report on some of his past alleged text messages.

Ingrassia, who currently serves as President Donald Trump’s special liaison to the Department of Homeland Security, said that he was taking his name out of consideration “because unfortunately I do not have enough Republican votes at this time.”

“I appreciate the overwhelming support that I have received throughout this process and will continue to serve President Trump and this administration to Make America Great Again!” he added.

POLITICO published a story on Monday that dug up a group chat where Ingrassia reportedly made inflammatory remarks about black holidays and claimed to have a “Nazi streak.” Two people, who were reportedly in the chat with Ingrassia and were given anonymity, showed POLITICO the text chain and the number they said belonged to Ingrassia.

“MLK Jr. was the 1960s George Floyd and his ‘holiday’ should be ended and tossed into the seventh circle of hell where it belongs,” read one text reportedly from Ingrassia. A month later, the Trump official reportedly brought up black holidays again and used an Italian slur for black people.

“No moulignon holidays … From kwanza [sic] to mlk jr day to black history month to Juneteenth,” the message read, adding, “Every single one needs to be eviscerated.”

Join us now during our exclusive Deal of the Decade. Get everything for $7 a month. Not as fans. As fighters. Go to DailyWire.com/Subscribe to join now.

In another exchange, a person in the group chat wrote, “Paul belongs in the Hitler Youth with Ubergruppenfuhrer Steve Bannon,” to which Ingrassia allegedly replied, “I do have a Nazi streak in me from time to time, I will admit it.”

Ingrassia, a political commentator who previously wrote for The Daily Caller and The Gateway Pundit, sent a letter to Republicans on Tuesday addressing multiple POLITICO “hit pieces.”

“I have no recollection of these alleged chat leaks, and do not concede their authenticity,” Ingrassia wrote. “They could well be outright falsehoods, doctored, or manipulated with AI, or at the very least, lack critical context.”

Ingrassia argued that some people “cloak themselves in anonymity while executing their personal agendas to harm me at all costs.” The Trump staffer went on to highlight his efforts to address antisemitism in the White House and his “great support among the Jewish community.”

Ingrassia also pointed to another published POLITICO report that put him in a negative light. In a story earlier this month, POLITICO reported allegations that Ingrassia arranged to cancel the hotel reservation of one of his female colleagues so she would have to stay in his room. Ingrassia denied the allegation and said that the woman in the piece “is a longtime friend” who “never once complained about me.”

Despite his letter to Republicans, three GOP senators on the Homeland Security Committee signaled that they would oppose Ingrassia’s confirmation, meaning his nomination likely would have died in the committee, NBC News reported. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) stated simply on Tuesday, “He’s not going to pass.”