Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) has announced his opposition to Paul Ingrassia’s nomination to lead the White House Office of the Special Counsel, citing his racist and antisemitic remarks that were disclosed in leaked texts. Scott stated during an interview that he cannot support a nominee who makes antisemitic comments in a country where such views are unacceptable. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee is set to hold a hearing on Ingrassia’s nomination on Thursday, with the potential for Vice President JD Vance to break a tie if needed.
Ingrassia, who has been linked to white nationalist figures like Nick Fuentes and Andrew Tate, faced previous scrutiny from the Senate panel in July. Recent reporting has also highlighted, which are still under investigation. Ingrassia’s attorney has dismissed these allegations, arguing the texts could be doctored or manipulated. The Senate panel’s response to these new reports remains uncertain, with some members expressing intent to question Ingrassia about his past social media activity.
The Senate panel’s chair, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), referred questions about the latest reporting on Ingrassia and whether the committee hearing would move forward Thursday as planned. The White House did not respond to requests for comment. Other Republican members of the panel were less definitive in how they would proceed. Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma said he wasn’t familiar with the new reporting but planned to ask Ingrassia about his previous social media posts.
Lankford told reporters Monday, “He has lots of posts that he’s done in the past, and there’s plenty of questions there.” The situation adds to the growing scrutiny of Trump’s nominees, as the Senate continues to evaluate their suitability for key positions. With the hearing scheduled for Thursday, the outcome of Ingrassia’s confirmation remains uncertain, particularly given the potential for a tiebreaker from Vice President JD Vance.
The controversy surrounding Ingrassia underscores the broader political tensions within the Senate as lawmakers navigate the challenges of confirming Trump’s nominees amid heightened scrutiny of their backgrounds and conduct. As the hearing approaches, the focus remains on whether the Senate can reach a consensus on Ingrassia’s nomination, with implications for the administration’s ability to staff critical roles effectively.