Senate Majority Leader John Thune has expressed his hope that the White House will withdraw the nomination of Paul Ingrassia for the Office of Special Counsel, following a troubling report from POLITICO. The report revealed text messages where Ingrassia made racially charged remarks, casting a shadow over his upcoming confirmation process.

"He’s not gonna pass," Thune stated unequivocally to the press on Monday. Ingrassia is slated to appear before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee this Thursday to testify regarding his nomination.

The support within his own party appears to be dwindling, with Senators Rick Scott (FL), Ron Johnson (WI), and James Lankford (OK) indicating their opposition to Ingrassia's confirmation. Senator Scott was particularly forthright, expressing disbelief over the antisemitic nature of the comments. "I’m not supporting him,” Scott said. “I can’t imagine how anybody can be antisemitic in this country. It’s wrong.”

Senator Lankford also voiced significant concerns, stating, "I have tons of questions for him," and adding that he "can’t imagine supporting that."

Ingrassia’s nomination hangs in a precarious balance, as the loss of just three Republican votes would necessitate Vice President JD Vance to intervene with a tie-breaking vote, assuming uniform opposition from Democrats.

The controversy stems from a series of text messages reported by POLITICO, in which Ingrassia disparaged the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday and admitted to having a "Nazi streak." His lawyer has contested the authenticity of these texts, suggesting they could be manipulated or taken out of context.

Additionally, earlier this month, POLITICO reported that Ingrassia, then serving as the White House liaison to the Department of Homeland Security, was investigated for harassment involving a subordinate. Although the colleague later retracted their complaint, the allegations contributed to the growing concerns surrounding Ingrassia’s suitability for the role.

As the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee prepares for Ingrassia’s testimony, the White House has yet to comment on the future of his nomination. This silence has only fueled further speculation about his prospects and the administration's next steps.

Contributor: Diana Nerozzi