"Donald Trump's nomination of a conservative attorney and commentator to oversee federal whistleblower protections appeared to be collapsing after his racist text messages surfaced this week and the Republican Senate leader suggested the White House should withdraw the pick. Paul Ingrassia, currently a White House liaison at the Department of Homeland Security, previously advocated for making 6 January a national holiday and publicly questioned whether the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack was a psyop."
"But the fans were flamed again on Monday after Politico reported text messages in which Ingrassia allegedly described himself as having a Nazi streak and suggested Martin Luther King Jr Day should be tossed into the seventh circle of hell. When reporters asked whether the administration should pull Ingrassia's nomination to lead the office of special counsel, John Thune, the Senate majority leader, responded on Monday: I think so. He's not going to pass."
"At least three GOP senators on the homeland security committee indicated they will vote against Ingrassia when his confirmation hearing proceeds on Thursday: Rick Scott of Florida, Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and James Lankford of Oklahoma. I don't plan on voting for him, Scott told reporters. The nominee can afford to lose only three Republican votes on the homeland security committee, which Republicans control by a single seat."
The nomination of Paul Ingrassia to oversee federal whistleblower protections faced collapse after racist text messages surfaced and GOP leaders urged withdrawal. Ingrassia, a White House liaison at the Department of Homeland Security, previously supported making 6 January a national holiday and questioned the October 7, 2023 Hamas attack. Politico reported texts in which he allegedly claimed a Nazi streak and suggested Martin Luther King Jr Day belong in the seventh circle of hell. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said the nomination should be withdrawn, multiple GOP senators opposed confirmation, and Democrats are expected to vote unanimously against him. Ingrassia's attorney questioned the messages' authenticity, suggested possible AI origin, labeled them self-deprecating satire, and denied harassment allegations after a complaint was withdrawn.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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