GOP Senators Withdraw Support for Trump Nominee Ingrassia Over Racist Texts

President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Office of Special Counsel, Paul Ingrassia, is facing significant Republican opposition due to racist and offensive text messages attributed to him, including statements against the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and self-descriptions of having a "Nazi streak." Key Republican senators such as Rick Scott, Ron Johnson, John Thune, and James Lankford have publicly withdrawn or expressed opposition to his confirmation, citing these messages and prior allegations of sexual harassment as disqualifying factors. Ingrassia remains scheduled to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, but his nomination is in jeopardy, as he can only afford to lose support from three Republicans before requiring a vice-presidential tiebreaker. The controversy highlights rare GOP defiance against a Trump administration pick and raises concerns about the administration's vetting process. Ingrassia's background includes hosting a far-right podcast and supporting Trump's 2024 election contest efforts, further intensifying scrutiny of his suitability for the role. The White House has yet to comment on the mounting backlash and calls for withdrawal of the nomination.