Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., says he will not support Paul Ingrassia, Trump’s controversial nominee for the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, telling NBC News, “I’m a no.”
“I had not been following him,” Tillis said. “I went into my office, got a preliminary briefing, and that’s enough for me to know there’s probably virtually no way I could get to a yes. It’s Jan. 6, it’s a number of other things. So, I think he’s one of these people that’s checked all the boxes, and they’re all the wrong boxes.”
Ingrassia is a far-right former podcaster and commentator with a lengthy list of incendiary comments. He has called for Jan. 6 to be declared a national holiday to honor the “peaceful protest against a great injustice affecting our electoral system” and dismissed the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel as a “psyop.”
Tillis has said in recent weeks that he will oppose any Trump nominee who participated in or acted in support of those who took part in the riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Trump’s nominees can only lose three votes in the Senate if they want to be confirmed, and Tillis’ early opposition could mean Ingrassia’s nomination is in trouble.
“It’s pretty apparent to me he’s not ready for prime time, but he’s young, he’s got plenty of time to learn,” Tillis said.
Ingrassia is set to have his confirmation hearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee tomorrow, where Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., said Ingrassia’s previous comments will come up.
“I would never make some of the statements he’s made,” Lankford, who’s on the committee, told NBC News. “So, I think those are all things to be able to ask about and try to be able to figure out his perspective.”
