Who is Paul Ingrassia? Trump nominee under fire for saying he had a ‘Nazi streak’

Paul Ingrassia, a 30-year-old lawyer and former White House aide, is making headlines after a report revealed a series of disturbing text messages he allegedly sent in early 2024. The messages, obtained by Politico, show him referring to having a “Nazi streak” and making racist remarks about Martin Luther King Jr. and Black Americans.

Ingrassia is Donald Trump’s nominee for the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) — a federal watchdog agency that protects whistleblowers and investigates political retaliation. His Senate confirmation hearing is set for Thursday, but the controversy surrounding his past comments has sparked outrage across Washington.

The Leaked Text Messages

According to Politico, the texts were shared in a group chat that included several Republican operatives and influencers. In one message dated January 2024, Ingrassia wrote: “MLK Jr. was the 1960s George Floyd and his holiday should be tossed into the seventh circle of hell where it belongs.”

The group members reportedly reacted with shock. A month earlier, he had suggested that Black History Month and Juneteenth “need to be eviscerated,” using a racial slur in the same text.

In another message from May 2024, while discussing a Trump campaign staffer hired to reach minority voters, Ingrassia reportedly said she didn’t show “enough deference to the Founding Fathers being white.”
One participant joked, “Paul belongs in the Hitler Youth with Übergruppenführer Steve Bannon.”
Ingrassia replied, “I do have a Nazi streak in me from time to time, I will admit it.”

The messages, confirmed by a member of the group, have since been authenticated by reporters.

Defense and Denial

Ingrassia’s lawyer, Edward Andre Paltzik, has claimed that the texts were taken out of context and were intended as satirical humor mocking how liberals call Trump supporters “Nazis.”
Paltzik added, “Even if the texts are authentic, they clearly read as self-deprecating and humorous.”

He also raised the possibility that some of the messages could have been manipulated or altered.

Paul Ingrassia’s Background

Paul Ingrassia was admitted to the New York Bar in July 2024, which critics say highlights his limited legal experience for such a high-profile federal role. Before his OSC nomination, he served as the White House liaison to the Department of Homeland Security during Trump’s second administration.

His career has been marked by controversy. Last week, Ingrassia was accused of sexual harassment by a female colleague who claimed he canceled her hotel reservation during a business trip so she would have to share a room with him.
The woman later retracted her complaint, stating that “no wrongdoing occurred.”

Ingrassia denied all allegations, with his lawyer saying he “never harassed any coworkers — female or otherwise, sexually or otherwise.”

What’s Next

Despite the backlash, Paul Ingrassia is still expected to appear before the Senate for his confirmation hearing later this week. Lawmakers from both parties are preparing tough questions regarding his conduct and judgment.

The controversy raises serious concerns about whether someone with such a record should lead an office tasked with protecting ethical standards and whistleblower rights.