The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has indefinitely delayed President Donald Trump’s pick to run an independent watchdog that investigates wrongdoing in the federal government.
Paul Ingrassia, the nominee to be special counsel, was scheduled to testify before the panel Thursday but was noticeably absent from the slate of nominees appearing before lawmakers. His selection has drawn scrutiny from critics who argue he is unqualified for the job given his short professional career out of law school and his association with online extremists.
“This big thing for our state is, he’s had some statements about antisemitism,” Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott, a member of the committee, said in a brief interview about his questions for the nominee.
Ingrassia has been linked to Nick Fuentes, a white nationalist, and Andrew Tate, a Holocaust denier.
