President Donald Trump’s nominee to head the Office of Special Counsel has withdrawn from his confirmation hearing after a bombshell Politico report exposed racist texts he had allegedly sent to a group of Republican operatives and influencers.
“I will be withdrawing myself from Thursday’s HSGAC hearing to lead the Office of Special Counsel because unfortunately I do not have enough Republican votes at this time,” Paul Ingrassia wrote in a Tuesday post on X. “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!.”
The decision comes after it became clear that Ingrassia, a White House liaison to the Department of Homeland Security, wouldn’t have the Senate support needed for confirmation.
“He’s not gonna pass,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters on Monday.
Ingrassia was originally scheduled to appear for a hearing Thursday when the report about the texts dropped earlier in the week. OSC chief, which he’s nominated for, involves heading an independent agency dedicated to investigating and rooting out wrongdoing in the federal government.
