Ingrassia Pick Imperiled in Senate as Thune Predicts Defeat (1)

The nomination of Paul Ingrassia, President Donald Trump’s pick to head the Office of Special Counsel, appears to be doomed after GOP senators said they would not vote to confirm him.

Senate Republicans on the committee overseeing Ingrassia’s nomination said in hallway interviews Monday night that they didn’t plan to support Ingrassia after Politico published chat messages said to have been written by the nominee.

“He’s not gonna pass,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told reporters.

Ingrassia is scheduled to appear before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for a confirmation hearing on Thursday.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), a member of the panel, told reporters Monday that he doesn’t support Ingrassia. Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), another committee member, said he thinks Ingrassia should withdraw.

“I have tons of questions for him when he comes on Thursday, but I can’t imagine supporting that,” Lankford told reporters on Monday evening. The White House didn’t immediately respond to a comment request.

Ingrassia’s confirmation hearing had already been delayed. The further erosion of Republican support likely means that he will not advance. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) had already said he planned to oppose the nomination.

Edward Andrew Paltzik, an attorney for Ingrassia, said in an email that “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.” Even if the texts are authentic, Paltzik said, “they clearly read as self-deprecating and satirical humor.”

Trump Watchdog Nominee’s Confirmation in Doubt After Delay

Ingrassia had earlier faced backlash from House Democrats for associating with right-wing influencers and comments on “deep-state” federal workers. Top House Democrats on Monday also wrote to Trump to urge him to withdraw the nomination.