Democrats urge spiking of Trump watchdog nominee who would 'traumatize' workforce

Source: The Hill

06/26/25 11:15 AM ET


Two Democratic committee leaders are urging the Senate to reject the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to lead a top whistleblower office, calling him “unfit” for the role and arguing he would help the Trump administration “traumatize the federal workforce and consolidate unchecked power.” Ingrassia, a former podcast host, was nominated last month to lead the Office of the Special Counsel (OSC). He has come under fire for a series of controversial remarks about Jan. 6, 2021, as well as his praise for other right-wing figures.

The OSC is a unique office within government, one with a dual mission to both enforce the electioneering prohibitions of the Hatch Act and to protect federal employees — fighting unlawful firings and serving as an outlet for whistleblowers. Reps. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Democrats on the House Oversight and Judiciary committees, respectively, said Ingrassia would not tackle either mission “without fear or favor.”

“[OSC] is an independent guardian of accountability within the executive branch. Mr. Ingrassia’s loyalty to Donald Trump over the Constitution, his calls for imposing martial law and celebrating violent January 6th insurrectionists, and his close associations with antisemitic extremists all make it clear that he lacks the temperament, experience, and fundamental constitutional fidelity required to lead this office,” Garcia and Raskin wrote in the letter.

“He is not simply unqualified — his confirmation would pose a direct threat to federal whistleblowers, the credibility of the OSC, and the integrity of our oversight institutions.”

Read more: https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/5371061-democrats-oppose-ingrassia-nomination-whistleblower/