Paul Ingrassia, nominated by President Donald Trump to head the Office of Special Counsel, reportedly sent messages to fellow Republicans describing the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday as deserving to be “thrown into the seventh circle of hell” and admitting he has “a Nazi streak,” according to texts obtained by POLITICO.
Ingrassia, set to appear before the Senate for a confirmation hearing on Thursday, reportedly made the comments in a text chain that included about six Republican operatives and political influencers, according to the messages.
“MLK Jr. was the 1960s George Floyd and his ‘holiday’ should be ended and tossed into the seventh circle of hell where it belongs,” Ingrassia wrote in January 2024, as per the chat. In response, one participant stated, “Jesus Christ.”
“No moulignon holidays … From kwanza [sic] to mlk jr day to black history month to Juneteenth,” then added: “Every single one needs to be eviscerated,” as per the messages obtained by POLITICO, Ingrassia used an Italian racial slur targeting Black people in the same group chat, a month before.
POLITICO spoke with two participants in the chat who requested anonymity, citing fears of personal and professional consequences. One participant retained the messages and shared the full text chain with POLITICO, which independently confirmed that the listed number belongs to Ingrassia. The individual said he came forward because he wants “the government to be staffed with experienced people who are taken seriously.” The second participant has since deleted the chain and could not recall specific details, but confirmed that the conversations occurred.
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Ingrassia’s attorney, Edward Andrew Paltzik, initially indicated that some of the messages may have been meant to mock liberals, though he did not verify their authenticity.
“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,’” he wrote in a statement. “In reality, Mr. Ingrassia has incredible support from the Jewish community because Jews know that Mr. Ingrassia is the furthest thing from a Nazi.”
Paltzik also criticized anonymous individuals he said were attempting to damage Ingrassia’s reputation. “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.”
“I do have a Nazi streak in me from time to time, I will admit it,” Ingrassia wrote, according to the messages. One participant in the chat told that the remark was not seen as a joke, and three members of the group challenged Ingrassia during the conversation that day.
The revelation of these messages adds to the challenges facing Ingrassia’s nomination to head the Office of Special Counsel, an agency responsible for investigating federal whistleblower complaints, discrimination claims, and other sensitive matters.
In July, Republican senators postponed Ingrassia’s nomination hearing, with one senator citing concerns over “some statements about antisemitism.” According to the messages, Ingrassia also made other racist comments. In January 2024, he wrote about former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. “Never trust a chinaman or Indian” and then added: “NEVER,” the texts show.
While, Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus responded, saying, “From a Trump nominee: “Never trust a chinaman or Indian. NEVER.” What will it take for Republican leaders to address the anti-Asian racism and bigotry within their party? in a post on X.
The May 2024 exchange over the “Nazi” comment escalated as Ingrassia defended his position. At one point, he suggested that a Georgia operative should “read a book (if she’s able to) on George Washington and America’s founding,” according to the messages. A third participant responded, “Paul you are coming across as a white nationalist which is beneficial to nobody.”
When Ingrassia insisted that “defending our founding isn’t ‘white nationalist,’” the participant pushed back, saying he “reflexively went to saying whites built the country.” In response, Ingrassia wrote, “They did,” according to the chat.
That remark led the same participant to warn, “You’re gunna be in private practice one day this shit will be around forever brother.”
Ingrassia shared an image in the chat featuring several Founding Fathers, including Washington, John Adams, and Alexander Hamilton. “We should celebrate white men and western civilization and I will never back down from that,” he wrote, according to the messages.
A third participant criticized what they saw as Ingrassia’s “white nationalist” tone, adding that he came across “with a tinge of racism.” The second participant then remarked that he sounded like “a scumbag,” to which Ingrassia allegedly responded, “Nah it’s fine … Don’t be a boomer … I don’t mind being a scumbag from time to time,” the texts show.
The participant who provided the messages, a longtime acquaintance of Ingrassia from Republican political circles, said that Ingrassia’s personality had shifted over the years, from a young law student engaged in conservative politics to an “extreme ego-driven” loyalist of Trump. “He was too young and too inexperienced to deal with the fame,” the person said. “It was like giving an 18-year-old $10 million and saying, ‘Have at it, kid.’”
Shortly after the May 2024 conversation, the group chat dissolved. The participant who shared the messages with POLITICO said members had grown weary of Ingrassia’s rhetoric.