Unions and responsible government organizations advocate against the confirmation of Trump's nominee for the Office of Special Counsel
The nomination of Paul Ingrassia for the position of U.S. special counsel has sparked controversy, with more than 20 federal employee unions, professional associations, and good government groups urging Senate lawmakers to reject his nomination. The coalition describes Ingrassia as a "demonstrably unserious nominee" for the position due to concerns about his lack of relevant experience and potential conflicts of interest.
Ingrassia's earlier writings reveal a contentious stance towards federal employees, referring to them as "parasites" and "bugmen" who "leech off the diminishing lifeblood of the dying republic." He has also shown support for overturning the 2020 election and contends that the executive power is fully vested in a president of the United States under Article II, not an unelected "civil service."
Ingrassia argues that the idea of civil servants being "apolitical" is a myth propagated by those who never want to be held responsible for anything. This stance raises concerns about his ability to uphold the merit system principles he would be tasked with protecting as U.S. special counsel.
Ingrassia's nomination has also been met with warnings from House lawmakers, who share the concerns of the federal unions and good government groups. His close ties with white supremacist and Holocaust denier Nick Fuentes and conservative social media influencer Andrew Tate, who has been charged with rape and sex trafficking in multiple countries, further fuel these concerns.
By law, the special counsel must be "an attorney who, by demonstrated ability, background, training, and experience, is especially qualified" for the position. However, Ingrassia's statements and actions seem to contradict this requirement. If appointed, Ingrassia could turn the Office of Special Counsel's mission on its head.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has scheduled a confirmation hearing for Ingrassia and five other nominees on Thursday. It remains to be seen how the Senate will respond to the concerns raised by federal unions, professional associations, and lawmakers about Paul Ingrassia's nomination.
