Embattled Trump-nominee Paul Ingrassia, 30, reportedly called in reinforcements to secure his confirmation: his mother.
Donna Gallo Ingrassia, 61, a Long Island, New York-based real estate agent, attempted to intervene on her son’s behalf by personally visiting the offices of Reps. Jamie Raskin and Robert Garcia, the top Democrats on the Judiciary and Oversight Committees, NOTUS reported.
If confirmed, Ingrassia would be responsible for protecting federal whistleblowers and enforcing civil service laws—a prospect that Raskin and Garcia expressed “grave concern” over in a joint letter released on June 26.
Citing his ties to online extremists and “loyalty to Donald Trump over the Constitution,” the lawmakers said Ingrassia’s nomination was “insulting” to Americans.
“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,” they wrote.
Four days after the letter’s release, his mother reportedly knocked on the locked door of Raskin’s personal office, sources told NOTUS.
“When staff opened the doors, she said, ‘You may have heard of my son, Paul,’ and demanded a meeting with Raskin,” a source familiar with the encounter told the outlet.
Donna continued pressing for a meeting until staffers informed her that Raskin was in Washington, D.C. That same day, she reportedly sought out Garcia, telling his staff that he had written “disparaging things” about her son and that she wanted to “give him a piece of my mind.”
In July, Ingrassia’s testimony for the Trump special counsel was delayed over alleged ties to antisemitism and online extremism. Ingrassia, who currently serves as the White House liaison to the Department of Homeland Security, has a Senate confirmation hearing scheduled for Thursday.
Donna confirmed to NOTUS that she had “visited both and requested a meeting and they never called me.”
“If dialogue is one sided and no one listens to one another, without communication, how in the world can anything be accomplished?” she wrote in a text message. “People hate and they do mot even know why they hate. Pride, jealousy, wrath, greed, sloth, envy. Deadly sins. Thank you for considering my thoughts.”
On Monday, a leaked group chat between Republicans revealed shockingly racist and hateful messages from Ingrassia.
Ingrassia allegedly sent messages that included racial slurs, an admission that he has a “Nazi streak,” and a claim that Martin Luther King Jr. Day should be “tossed into the seventh circle of hell,” Politico reported.
“Blacks behave that way because that’s their natural state… You can’t change them," he allegedly wrote during one discussion on why some Republicans believe Democrats portray Black Americans as victims.
“Proof: all of Africa is a s--thole, and will always be that way.”
In a statement to the Daily Beast, Ingrassia’s lawyer, Edward Andrew Paltzik, questioned the authenticity of the text messages, which were verified by Politico.
“Even if the texts are authentic, they clearly read as self-deprecating and satirical humor making fun of the fact that liberals outlandishly and routinely call MAGA supporters ‘Nazis.’ In reality, Mr. Ingrassia has incredible support from the Jewish community because Jews know that Mr. Ingrassia is the furthest thing from a Nazi,” he wrote.
“In this age of AI, authentication of allegedly leaked messages, which could be outright falsehoods, doctored, or manipulated, or lacking critical context, is extremely difficult.”
On Tuesday, CNN reported that the Zionist Organization of America, the main Jewish group backing Ingrassia’s nomination, withdrew its support.
The resurfaced texts are the second controversy Ingrassia has faced in recent weeks. Earlier this month, it was revealed that the Trump-nominee was the subject of a sexual harassment complaint earlier this year, though it has since been withdrawn.
In July, Ingrassia and others in his department went to check in at the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Orlando, Florida, Politico first reported.
When a lower-ranking female colleague discovered she didn’t have a room, Ingrassia reportedly told her she would stay with him. Three administration officials with knowledge of the incident told Politico that Ingrassia had canceled her reservation in advance so that they’d be placed in the same room. Ingrassia has denied any wrongdoing.
Paltzik also rebuked such claims. “Mr. Ingrassia has never harassed any coworkers—female or otherwise, sexually or otherwise—in connection with any employment," he wrote.
Donna, too, seemingly referenced the controversies surrounding her son in her texts to NOTUS, writing: “Paul is a strong, unwavering Catholic who is a staunch supporter of President Trump and his agenda... This is an effort to muddy and derail the best candidate for the job.”
“Paul has a lot of congressional and senatorial support,” she said. “He has tremendous support from Jewish leaders, and the Catholic community. Paul is articulate, intelligent, and wise beyond his years. He has strong family support and leads a life of faith, integrity and virtue. Very loyal.”
“Outcome: God’s will 🙏,” she concluded.
