Ranking Members Bennie Thompson & Robert Garcia Demand Withdrawal of Trump Nominee Accused of Sexual Harassment and Racist Remarks
“Mr. Ingrassia is biased and incapable of fairly and even-handedly enforcing the law.”
Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, wrote President Trump urging the immediate dismissal of Paul Ingrassia from federal service and the withdrawal of his nomination to lead the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) following reports of sexual harassment against a female colleague, the exchange of racist text messages and associations with extremist figures while serving as the White House liaison to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
According to multiple federal officials, Mr. Ingrassia canceled a female colleague’s hotel room reservation during official travel and pressured her to share a room with him – prompting a formal complaint and investigation by the DHS Inspector General and the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, which temporarily revoked his badge and access to DHS headquarters. Despite this, the Trump Administration went forward with his nomination to lead the Office of Special Counsel – the very agency charged with protecting federal employees from sexual harassment and misconduct. His nomination is scheduled to be taken up by the Senate this Thursday.
In the letter, Ranking Members Thompson and Garcia wrote, “Continuing to employ Mr. Ingrassia endangers the women who serve alongside him, including the women at DHS who are tasked with keeping the homeland safe. His nomination to lead OSC demonstrates the Trump Administration’s contempt for the safety of women in the workplace and is a slap in the face to every American who values justice and integrity in the federal merit system.”
Media reports also revealed that Mr. Ingrassia sent a series of racist messages last year, writing, “I do have a Nazi streak in me from time to time,” and “We need competent white men in positions of leadership.”. He is grossly inexperienced for the position for which he is nominated and has alarming ties to Nick Fuentes – a proud white nationalist and antisemite – and Andrew Tate – a vile misogynist, Holocaust denier, and alleged sex trafficker.
“Keeping Paul Ingrassia on the federal payroll is a direct threat to the women who work with him and to every public servant who believes in a safe and respectful workplace,” added Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson. “It’s shameful that someone under investigation for harassment—and now exposed for sending racist messages—would be rewarded with a promotion. President Trump must immediately withdraw his nomination and remove him from government service.”
Click here to read the full letter.
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