Trump nominee Paul Ingrassia withdraws after offensive texts allegedly emerge

Ingrassia, 30, said he was withdrawing his name to lead the Office of Special Counsel (OSC) "because unfortunately I do not have enough Republican votes at this time".

In alleged messages published on Monday, Ingrassia reportedly denounced the Martin Luther King holiday, saying it should be "tossed into the seventh circle of hell".

According to Politico, Ingrassia's texts - sent to a group of Republican operatives - also denounced other holidays celebrating black Americans, including Black History Month and Juneteenth - the newest federal holiday.

"I do have a Nazi streak in me from time to time," one text allegedly read.