One of President Donald Trump's most vocal critics in the Senate is threatening to sink one of the administration's nominations to a federal ethics watchdog agency, NBC News reported.
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) told NBC News producer Frank Thorp that he will vote "no" on Paul Ingrassia's nomination to lead the Office of Special Counsel.
"It's January 6th, it's a number of other things," Tillis told Thorp. "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 former podcast host who is well-known for making incendiary comments, according to NBC News. For example, he has called for January 6th to be recognized as a federal holiday to commemorate the "peaceful protest" against the 2020 election. He has also called the October 7 attack against Israel a "psyop" and aligns himself with "manosphere" influencers like Andrew Tate.
Ingrassia's confirmation hearing is currently scheduled for Thursday with the Homeland Security Committee, and Republicans need a simple majority to advance the nomination.
Republicans hold a three-seat advantage on the committee.
Tillis's comments come at a time when Republicans appear to be pushing back against the Trump administration. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) also said on Tuesday that she won't support Emil Bove's nomination to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.
Several Republicans have also spoken out against the president's handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files. The Trump administration has tried to walk back its promise to release the files, which has caused the base to fracture.
It also provided an opportunity for Republicans to distance themselves from Trump. Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) and Thomas Massie (R-KY) have both called on the president to release all of the Epstein files over the president's objections.