Reports have surfaced that Donald Trump’s candidate for heading a federal anti-corruption agency confessed in a text message to having a “Nazi streak.”
Paul Ingrassia, nominated by Trump to lead the Office of Special Counsel, is embroiled in controversy due to alleged racist remarks made in a group chat with fellow Republicans.
Among the offensive messages, Ingrassia suggested that Martin Luther King Jr. Day should be “banished to the seventh circle of hell,” arguing against “moulignon holidays,” a derogatory Italian term for Black individuals.
As Ingrassia prepares for his Senate confirmation hearing this Thursday, it’s been reported that he also made disparaging comments about not trusting people of Indian descent, specifically referencing former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy.
One of the group chat members leaked these messages, expressing a wish for a government staffed by competent and respected individuals.
The revelations, published by Politico, ignited a significant controversy, especially within the White House, following their report on the pervasive casual racism among Republicans.
Ingrassia’s lawyer said the messages were intended to mock liberals who call Trump supporters Nazis and suggested they are manipulated to show his candidate in the worst possible light.
‘Looks like these texts could be manipulated or are being provided with material context omitted. However, arguendo, even if the texts are authentic, they clearly read as self-deprecating and satirical humor making fun of the fact that liberals outlandishly and routinely call MAGA supporters “Nazis,”‘ Edward Paltzik said.
Paul Ingrassia announces the release of January 6 rioters outside of the DC Central Detention Facility on January 20, 2025
His lawyer went on to allege that there were people out there who wanted to hurt the Trump nominee.
‘In this age of AI, authentication of allegedly leaked messages, which could be outright falsehoods, doctored, or manipulated, or lacking critical context, is extremely difficult,’ he said.
‘What is certain, though, is that there are individuals who cloak themselves in anonymity while executing their underhanded personal agendas to harm Mr. Ingrassia at all costs. We do not concede the authenticity of any of these purported messages.’
The White House and Department of Homeland Security did not respond to the Daily Mail’s requests for comment.
Ingrassia, if confirmed for the special counsel role, would be tasked with handling whistleblower complaints, discrimination cases and other high-stakes federal matters.
He is already under pressure after it was revealed earlier this month that he had faced a sexual harassment probe while working at DHS. It found no wrongdoing.
‘Mr. Ingrassia has never harassed any coworkers — female or otherwise, sexually or otherwise — in connection with any employment,’ Paltzik said.
In February 2024, the group chat discussed why some Republicans believe that Democrats portray black people as victims.
‘Blacks behave that way because that’s their natural state… You can’t change them,’ Ingrassia wrote.
‘Proof: all of Africa is a shithole, and will always be that way,’ he added.
In May 2024, Ingrassia’s friend wrote in the group chat: ‘Paul belongs in the Hitler Youth.’
The Trump official replied: ‘I do have a Nazi streak in me from time to time, I will admit it.’
In some of the exchanges, participants pushed back against Ingrassia, including one who warned: ‘Paul you are coming across as a white nationalist which is beneficial to nobody.’
Another said: ‘You’re gunna be in private practice one day this shit will be around forever brother.’
Concerns were raised about Ingrassia in the senate after he attended a gathering last year hosted by Nick Fuentes, a Holocaust denier and white nationalist.
Fuentes held the impromptu rally after being kicked out of a Turning Point USA conference. Ingrassia called it a an ‘awful decision’ by Charlie Kirk’s foundation.
The furor comes after another Trump loyalist was dragged into scandal last week over allegations he had leaked racist texts about his colleagues.
Gavin Wax, a Department of State staffer, found himself at the center of the crisis which reached the highest echelons of the White House, sources told the Daily Mail.
He is accused of pressuring another administration official to share text messages with Politico in which members of the New York State Young Republican club said, ‘I love Hitler’ and referred to black people as monkeys.
A source close to Wax denied that he was the source of the leak but this was rejected by multiple senior Republicans who said the White House had been aware of his links to the Politico story and had urged him to prevent its publication.
