Trump's special counsel nominee faces backlash over leaked racist texts, sparking opposition to his confirmation.

Paul Ingrassia, President Trump’s nominee for Special Counsel, faces intense scrutiny after POLITICO reported leaked texts in which he made racist and inflammatory remarks, including calling Martin Luther King Jr. Day deserving of a place in the “seventh circle of hell,” using racial slurs, and admitting to having a “Nazi streak.” The messages, sent in 2024 to a private Republican group, also included calls to eliminate Black History Month and Juneteenth, and praise for white nationalist figures. Senate Republicans, including John Thune and Ron Johnson, have said they will oppose his confirmation. Ingrassia’s attorney disputed the authenticity of the messages, calling them satirical and possibly AI-generated, but the controversy has raised serious concerns about his suitability for a role overseeing federal ethics and accountability.