Good government groups opposed to the nomination of Paul Ingrassia to head the Office of Special Counsel welcomed his withdrawal Tuesday from consideration for the position.
“Ingrassia did one thing right in this process — he withdrew,” said Andrew P. Bakaj, chief legal counsel for Whistleblower Aid, in a statement. “I commend him for having the minimum self-awareness to conclude that his inexperience, racist leanings and disdain for public servants — compounded with his failed character — make him resolutely unfit to hold the Office of Special Counsel.”
The whistleblower nonprofit previously warned that a partisan-minded special counsel could decimate whistleblowing. OSC enforces merit principles in federal employment and handles whistleblower complaints.
Likewise, the Project on Government Oversight, which in July led a coalition of more than 20 federal employee unions, professional associations and public interest groups urging senators to vote against Ingrassia, said his withdrawal was “only appropriate.”
“Someone who shows so much disdain for federal workers is entirely unfit to lead a key whistleblower office,” said Joe Spielberger, POGO senior policy counsel, in a statement to Government Executive. “Senators were right to question his fitness for the role, and I hope they will give the next nominee the same level of scrutiny."
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