It came down to the wire. A day before what was shaping up to be a doomed Senate confirmation hearing, Paul Ingrassia quietly withdrew his name from consideration to lead the U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC).
His downfall wasn’t about policy—it was about the dozens of racist, misogynistic, and violent comments he made in 2024 and 2025, including quotes endorsing rape, murder, and white supremacy. The backlash was swift: several Republican senators, including Rick Scott, Ron Johnson, and John Thune, pulled their support, effectively killing his nomination.
But here’s the catch — Donald Trump never withdrew it.
William Spivey
Ingrassia still works in the Trump White House, serving as a liaison tied to the Department of Homeland Security. He reports directly to the Executive Office of the President, coordinating with federal agencies and staying plugged into Trump’s political network. He may have been too racist for the U.S. Senate, but somehow, he’s just right for this White House.
A Record of Hate
Here’s a taste of what got him here:
“I do have a Nazi streak in me from time to time, I will admit it.”
“Never trust a Chinaman or Indian, NEVER!”
“Blacks behave that way because that’s their natural state … You can’t change them.”
“Proof: all of Africa is a shithole, and will always be that way.”
“MLK Jr. was the 1960s George Floyd and his ‘holiday’ should be ended and tossed into the seventh circle of hell.”
“No moulignon holidays … From Kwanzaa to MLK Jr. Day to Black History Month to Juneteenth. Every single one needs to be eviscerated.”
Even his own group chat couldn’t stomach it. One person bailed out entirely:
“I will not be posting on this thread going forward. There are enemies in this group. Please take my name out of this thread.”
Another tried to warn him:
“You’re gunna be in private practice one day — this shit will be around forever, brother.”
And one member summed it up with a line that cuts through the noise:
“Paul belongs in the Hitler Youth with Obergruppenführer Steve Bannon.”
The Job He Almost Had
It’s not like the job was small potatoes. The Office of Special Counsel is an independent federal watchdog tasked with protecting whistleblowers, investigating prohibited personnel practices, and ensuring federal employees are treated fairly — regardless of race, religion, or political affiliation.
In other words: it’s about trust.
Put a man like Ingrassia in charge, and that trust evaporates. His past statements alone could be used in court to challenge the office’s impartiality, undermining every enforcement action it took. Employees, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, would have no reason to believe the agency could protect them.
His leadership would’ve made the OSC a national embarrassment—an institution meant to safeguard fairness, led by someone who mocked the very idea of equality. Congress would’ve had no choice but to drag him into constant oversight hearings. The agency’s credibility would’ve been torched before he even found his parking spot.
The Message That Remains
America dodged one bullet when the nomination fell apart. But by keeping Ingrassia inside the White House, Trump sent a darker message: that racism isn’t a dealbreaker. That prejudice isn’t disqualifying. That hate can still have a keycard.
The White House isn’t a private clubhouse—it’s the people’s house. Keeping Ingrassia on the payroll corrodes public trust and undermines any pretense of moral leadership. Removing him would be a small but symbolic act of integrity.
Letting him stay says it all: Loyalty to one man matters more than loyalty to the principles of equality and justice.
This post originally appeared on Medium and is edited and republished with author's permission. Read more of William Spivey's work on Medium. And if you dig his words, buy the man a coffee.
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