Yesterday, POLITICO exposed yet another up-and-coming Republican group chat with wildly offense rhetoric. This one features the off-color remarks of Paul Ingrassia, Donald Trump’s nominee for the position of federal ethics watchdog Special Counsel. Ingrassia graduated from Cornell Law a whole three(!) years ago, and was admitted to the New York bar a scant year ago. But that isn’t the most eye-popping aspect of his nomination. There are the alleged links to antisemitic extremists, the sexual harassment investigation, and now the racist texts.
According to POLITICO, in the right-wing group chat Ingrassia wrote, “MLK Jr. was the 1960s George Floyd and his ‘holiday’ should be ended and tossed into the seventh circle of hell where it belongs.” And, “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.”
Then there’s the self-proclaimed “Nazi streak”:
“Paul belongs in the Hitler Youth with Ubergruppenfuhrer Steve Bannon,” the first participant in the chat wrote, referring to the paramilitary rank in Nazi Germany and the Republican strategist. POLITICO is not naming the participants to protect the identity of those interviewed for this article.
“I do have a Nazi streak in me from time to time, I will admit it,” Ingrassia responded, according to the chain. One of the people in the text group said in an interview that Ingrassia’s comment was not taken as a joke, and three participants pushed back against Ingrassia during the text exchange that day.
Referring to white nationalist Nick Fuentes and the “Live From America” show on the video-sharing platform Rumble, a second member of the group replied: “New LFA show coming starring Nick Fuentes & Paul Adolf Ingrassia.” To which Ingrassia wrote, “Lmao,” according to the group chat.
And when other participants called out Ingrassia’s comments, he allegedly dug in. When one member of the group chat noted, “You’re gunna be in private practice one day this shit will be around forever brother.” Ingrassia went off:
Ingrassia posted an image of paintings showing several Founding Fathers, including Washington, John Adams and Alexander Hamilton, into the chat. “We should celebrate white men and western civilization and I will never back down from that,” he wrote, according to the chain.
The third participant of the group criticized Ingrassia’s “white nationalist” tone then said he was coming across “with a tinge of racism.” The second participant then said he sounded like “a scumbag,” to which Ingrassia allegedly replied, “Nah it’s fine … Don’t be a boomer … I don’t mind being a scumbag from time to time,” the texts show.
A lawyer for Ingrassia tried to cast doubt on the messages, telling POLITICO, “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.’”
But the reaction in Washington has not been as forgiving. According to reports, at least four Republican senators — notably including Senate majority leader, John Thune, have signaled concerns with the nomination following the revelations. Ingrassia is scheduled to appear before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee later this week, and two of the Republican members of that committee have issues with the nominees. Rick Scott said he doesn’t support the nominee and Ron Johnson called for the White House to pull the nom.
But a whistleblower report on Emil Bove telling DOJ staff to tell the courts “f*ck you” didn’t stop his elevation to the Third Circuit, so well just have to see if the Republican backbone lasts.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.
The post Will Office Of Special Counsel Nominee’s ‘Nazi Streak’ Stop Him From Being Confirmed? It’s 2025, So Who Knows?!? appeared first on Above the Law.
Yesterday, POLITICO exposed yet another up-and-coming Republican group chat with wildly offense rhetoric. This one features the off-color remarks of Paul Ingrassia, Donald Trump’s nominee for the position of federal ethics watchdog Special Counsel. Ingrassia graduated from Cornell Law a whole three(!) years ago, and was admitted to the New York bar a scant year ago. But that isn’t the most eye-popping aspect of his nomination. There are the alleged links to antisemitic extremists, the sexual harassment investigation, and now the racist texts.
According to POLITICO, in the right-wing group chat Ingrassia wrote, “MLK Jr. was the 1960s George Floyd and his ‘holiday’ should be ended and tossed into the seventh circle of hell where it belongs.” And, “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.”
Then there’s the self-proclaimed “Nazi streak”:
“Paul belongs in the Hitler Youth with Ubergruppenfuhrer Steve Bannon,” the first participant in the chat wrote, referring to the paramilitary rank in Nazi Germany and the Republican strategist. POLITICO is not naming the participants to protect the identity of those interviewed for this article.
“I do have a Nazi streak in me from time to time, I will admit it,” Ingrassia responded, according to the chain. One of the people in the text group said in an interview that Ingrassia’s comment was not taken as a joke, and three participants pushed back against Ingrassia during the text exchange that day.
Referring to white nationalist Nick Fuentes and the “Live From America” show on the video-sharing platform Rumble, a second member of the group replied: “New LFA show coming starring Nick Fuentes & Paul Adolf Ingrassia.” To which Ingrassia wrote, “Lmao,” according to the group chat.
And when other participants called out Ingrassia’s comments, he allegedly dug in. When one member of the group chat noted, “You’re gunna be in private practice one day this shit will be around forever brother.” Ingrassia went off:
Ingrassia posted an image of paintings showing several Founding Fathers, including Washington, John Adams and Alexander Hamilton, into the chat. “We should celebrate white men and western civilization and I will never back down from that,” he wrote, according to the chain.
The third participant of the group criticized Ingrassia’s “white nationalist” tone then said he was coming across “with a tinge of racism.” The second participant then said he sounded like “a scumbag,” to which Ingrassia allegedly replied, “Nah it’s fine … Don’t be a boomer … I don’t mind being a scumbag from time to time,” the texts show.
A lawyer for Ingrassia tried to cast doubt on the messages, telling POLITICO, “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.’”
But the reaction in Washington has not been as forgiving. According to reports, at least four Republican senators — notably including Senate majority leader, John Thune, have signaled concerns with the nomination following the revelations. Ingrassia is scheduled to appear before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee later this week, and two of the Republican members of that committee have issues with the nominees. Rick Scott said he doesn’t support the nominee and Ron Johnson called for the White House to pull the nom.
But a whistleblower report on Emil Bove telling DOJ staff to tell the courts “f*ck you” didn’t stop his elevation to the Third Circuit, so well just have to see if the Republican backbone lasts.
Kathryn Rubino is a Senior Editor at Above the Law, host of The Jabot podcast, and co-host of Thinking Like A Lawyer. AtL tipsters are the best, so please connect with her. Feel free to email her with any tips, questions, or comments and follow her on Twitter @Kathryn1 or Mastodon @Kathryn1@mastodon.social.
The post Will Office Of Special Counsel Nominee’s ‘Nazi Streak’ Stop Him From Being Confirmed? It’s 2025, So Who Knows?!? appeared first on Above the Law.
