Paul Ingrassia, the beleaguered nominee from President Donald Trump to helm the Office of Special Counsel, recently sparked controversy with a series of inflammatory comments shared in a text conversation among fellow Republicans. He suggested that the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday ought to be “tossed into the seventh circle of hell” and remarked that he possesses “a Nazi streak,” according to a discussion reviewed by POLITICO.
Ingrassia, who is set for a Senate confirmation hearing this Thursday, made these incendiary remarks in a group chat with several Republican operatives and influencers.
“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 allegedly wrote in January 2024.
One participant in the chat responded with a shocked, “Jesus Christ.”
In another instance, using a derogatory Italian term for Black individuals, Ingrassia wrote a month earlier, “No moulignon holidays … From Kwanzaa to MLK Jr. Day to Black History Month to Juneteenth.” He concluded with, “Every single one needs to be eviscerated.”
POLITICO spoke with two individuals involved in the chat, granting them anonymity due to concerns over potential personal and professional fallout. One participant retained the messages and shared the entire exchange with POLITICO, which independently verified Ingrassia’s number. This individual expressed a desire for government positions to be filled by qualified candidates who command respect. The second participant deleted the conversation but confirmed that it occurred.
Edward Andrew Paltzik, Ingrassia’s lawyer, initially claimed that some of the texts were meant to mock liberals, although he did not authenticate them. He stated, “Looks like these texts could be manipulated or are being provided with material context omitted. However, even if the texts are authentic, they clearly read as self-deprecating and satirical humor making fun of the fact that liberals routinely call MAGA supporters ‘Nazis.’” He added, “In reality, Mr. Ingrassia has incredible support from the Jewish community because Jews know that Mr. Ingrassia is the furthest thing from a Nazi.”
In a follow-up statement to POLITICO a few days later, Paltzik criticized anonymous detractors as 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 noted. “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.”
In May 2024, during a lighthearted exchange about a Trump campaign staffer hired in Georgia for outreach to minority voters, Ingrassia suggested she failed to show appropriate respect for the Founding Fathers due to their whiteness, according to the chat.
One chat participant quipped, “Paul belongs in the Hitler Youth with Ubergruppenfuhrer Steve Bannon,” referencing the paramilitary rank in Nazi Germany. Ingrassia responded, “I do have a Nazi streak in me from time to time, I will admit it.” This comment was reportedly not received as a joke, and three participants challenged him during this exchange.
Referring to white nationalist Nick Fuentes and a show on the video-sharing platform Rumble, another member replied, “New LFA show coming starring Nick Fuentes & Paul Adolf Ingrassia.” Ingrassia’s response was simply “Lmao.” LFA founder Jeremy Herrell later distanced the organization from both Fuentes and Ingrassia, suggesting the mention was likely intended as a joke.
These revelations come at a precarious time for Ingrassia, whose nomination to lead the Office of Special Counsel—a role focused on investigating federal employee whistleblower complaints and discrimination claims—faces increasing scrutiny. Earlier reports indicated that Ingrassia, 30, is under internal investigation at the Department of Homeland Security, where he serves as a White House liaison, following a sexual harassment complaint that was later withdrawn without any findings of wrongdoing. His attorney has denied the allegations.
Neither the White House nor the Department of Homeland Security responded to inquiries regarding the text messages.
In July, Republican senators postponed Ingrassia’s confirmation hearing, with at least one expressing concerns about “some statements about antisemitism.”
Further racist remarks attributed to Ingrassia in the chat included a January 2024 message about former Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy: “Never trust a chinaman or Indian,” which he emphasized with “NEVER.” Ramaswamy, the son of Indian immigrants, has chosen not to comment.
A month later, discussing perceptions among some Republicans that Democrats create victimhood among Black individuals, Ingrassia reportedly said, “Blacks behave that way because that’s their natural state … You can’t change them.” He added, “Proof: all of Africa is a shithole, and will always be that way.” This language echoes similar remarks made by Trump during his first term.
As the May 2024 discussion about the “Nazi” comment intensified, Ingrassia doubled down. He argued that the Georgia staffer should “read a book (if she’s able to) on George Washington and America’s founding.” A third participant warned, “Paul you are coming across as a white nationalist which is beneficial to nobody.” Ingrassia maintained that “defending our founding isn’t ‘white nationalist,’” to which the participant countered that his rhetoric suggested otherwise.
“They did,” Ingrassia asserted, referring to the Founding Fathers’ contributions. The third participant cautioned, “You’re gonna be in private practice one day; this shit will be around forever, brother.” Ingrassia then shared images of several Founding Fathers, stating, “We should celebrate white men and western civilization, and I will never back down from that.”
As the chat progressed, the criticism of Ingrassia’s “white nationalist” tone grew, with one participant labeling him “a scumbag.” Ingrassia reportedly replied, “Nah, it’s fine … Don’t be a boomer … I don’t mind being a scumbag from time to time.”
In February 2024, he further declared: “We need competent white men in positions of leadership. … The Founding Fathers were wrong that all men are created equal … We need to reject that part of our heritage,” according to the text exchange.
Ingrassia’s comments reflect a troubling consistency with both his past public statements and associations. He has links to Fuentes and Andrew Tate, a far-right figure facing serious legal charges in the UK. Following the “Nazi” comment, Ingrassia attended a rally featuring Fuentes, although he later claimed ignorance regarding the event’s organizers and departed early. Fuentes has not responded to requests for comment.
After Fuentes was expelled from a Turning Point USA event in June 2024, Ingrassia criticized the decision as “awful.” He also described the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as a “psyop” shortly after the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
In March 2023, Ingrassia argued that education should prioritize “elevating the high IQ section of your demographics,” specifically targeting “young men, straight White men.” In December 2023, he proclaimed on X that “Exceptional white men are not only the builders of Western civilization but are the ones most capable of appreciating the fruits of our heritage.”
One individual from the group chat, who has known Ingrassia for years through Republican circles, noted a significant personality shift in him over time. They claimed that Ingrassia transformed from a young law student intrigued by conservative politics into an “extreme ego-driven” Trump loyalist, a change that began after he worked as a law clerk for a firm representing Tate and appeared on the “War Room” podcast with Bannon, who declined to comment.
“He was too young and too inexperienced to deal with the fame,” the participant remarked. “It was like giving an 18-year-old $10 million and saying, ‘Have at it, kid.’”
Throughout the text exchanges, peers frequently encouraged Ingrassia to moderate his rhetoric, especially if he aspired to work in a future Trump administration. “Very influential people were trying to give him advice on how to be, and he threw that advice right back at them,” the participant explained. “He basically said, ‘Fuck you. Look at me. I can write a Substack and get it posted by the president.’”
Shortly after the May 2024 exchange, the group chat dissolved, with participants expressing fatigue over Ingrassia’s rhetoric. “I will not be posting on this thread going forward,” one participant declared, adding, “There are enemies in this group. Please take my name out of this thread.”
