Embattled Trump nominee Paul Ingrassia withdraws from Thursday confirmation hearing

Paul Ingrassia, President Donald Trump's embattled nominee to lead the Office of Special Counsel, announced in a post on X Tuesday night that he will withdraw himself from a hearing to consider his nomination that was scheduled for Thursday.

"I will be withdrawing myself from Thursday's HSGAC hearing to lead the Office of Special Counsel because unfortunately I do not have enough Republican votes at this time," Ingrassia posted. "Iappreciate the overwhelming support that I have received throughout this process and will continue to serve President Trump and this administration to Make America Great Again!"

ABC News has reached out to the White House about the status of Ingrassia's nomination but has not received a reply.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Monday cast doubt on whether Ingrassia, a former far-right podcast host, would be confirmed.

Ingrassia, whom Trump nominated in May to lead the independent watchdog agency empowered to investigate federal employees and oversee complaints from whistleblowers, was to appear before the Senate Homeland Security Committee just days after a Politico report alleged Ingrassia sent racist text messages -- including reports that he said that the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday should be "tossed into the seventh circle of hell" and said he has "a Nazi streak."

A lawyer for Ingrassia, Edward Paltzik, would not confirm to ABC News that the messages were authentic. He added that even if the texts were authentic, they were "clearly" meant as "self-deprecating and satirical humor" aimed at liberals.

ABC News has not independently verified the messages.

Asked if the White House should pull Ingrassia's nomination, Thune said, "I hope so."

"He's not going to pass," Thune said Monday.

Asked on Tuesday about whether the committee would pull Ingrassia's nomination, Thune said he thinks the committee will "have something official to say about that."

"You'll probably hear from them soon," Thune said.

The White House has not responded to a request for comment on Thune's comments.

ABC News exclusively reported in February about how Ingrassia, in his role as White House liaison to the Department of Justice, was pushing to hire candidates at the Justice Department who exhibited what he called "exceptional loyalty" to Trump.

His efforts at Justice Department sparked clashes with Attorney General Pam Bondi's top aide, Chad Mizelle, leading Ingrassia to complain directly to Trump, sources told ABC News.

Ingrassia was pushed out of the Justice Department and reassigned as the White House liaison to the Department of Homeland Security, where he was serving prior to Trump announcing his new role, according to a White House official familiar with the matter.

Ingrassia, if he cleared a vote by the Homeland Security Committee, would need 50 votes to be confirmed by the Senate.There's already a number of senators signaling they won't support his nomination.

It's still unclear if Ingrassia would even have the support he needed to pass out of committee to get a vote of the full Senate.

Republican Sen. Rick Scott, who sits on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, told reporters Monday that he doesn't support Ingrassia's nomination.

Asked point blank if he supports him, Scott gave a curt, "No, I do not."

Sen. Ron Johnson, another Republican member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, also told ABC News he wouldn't support Ingassia's nomination.

"I wouldn't vote for him. His nomination should not have gotten this far. Hopefully it is pulled," Johnson said.

Johnson declined to provide details on why he wouldn't vote for Ingrassia.

Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who chairs the committee, sidestepped directly answering questions about whether Ingrassia would still appear before the panel for confirmation on Thursday.

"You know, we are going to wait and see how things turn out, and we will find out more on Thursday," Paul said when asked if Ingrassia's hearing would go forward.

Paul has declined to say whether or not he would support Ingrassia.

Asked Tuesday if he thought the White House should pull Ingrassia's nomination from consideration, Paul said that was up to the administration to determine.

"That's going to be their decision," he said. "We are waiting to find out what their decision will be."