A controversial Trump nominee may not survive the week, as more leaked text messages have surfaced from another member of the New York Young Republicans. Paul Ingrassia has been nominated to lead the Office of Special Counsel, but additional text messages released by Politico on Monday set off alarm bells for several top-ranking GOP Senators, who are now saying they oppose his nomination.
Ingrassia is accused of racist tirades in a group chat with Republican friends. Text messages released by Politico showed Ingrassia admitting he has a ‘Nazi streak’, it has been reported. The messages include calling for MLK day to be ‘tossed into the seventh circle of hell where it belongs’, adding that there should be ‘no moulignon holidays,’ using an Italian slur for black people.
Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune asked the White House to withdraw Ingrassia’s nomination, adding, ‘he’s not going to pass.’ Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott told reporters Monday evening that he does ‘not support’ Ingrassia’s nomination.
Ingrassia, who already serves in a non-Senate confirmed role at the Department of Homeland Security was additionally revealed earlier this month to have sexually harassed a female coworker on a work trip.
The DHS staffer was investigated for sexually harassing a lower-ranking female colleague after he canceled her hotel room so they would be forced to share a room together. Politico reported that White House liaison for the Department of Homeland Security, Paul Ingrassia faced a probe over a July business trip with other DHS staffers to Orlando, Florida.
Upon arriving at the front desk Ritz-Carlton hotel in Orlando, an unnamed lower-ranking female colleague was informed she did not have a room. Ingrassia then told the staffer she would be staying with him, according to Politico who cited five administration officials familiar with the event.
Ingrassia was originally nominated for the Office of Special Counsel in June. He was set to be voted on with a slew of other nominees at the end of July, when he was pulled from the noticed calendar. Ingrassia has additionally associated with the likes of far-right media personalities Andrew Tate and Nick Fuentes.
