Zionist Organization of America's Morton Klein says he's in support of Paul Ingrassia leading the Office of Special Counsel.
"A CNN article stated that I never endorsed Paul Ingrassia for his nomination of a position with Homeland Security. In fact, I merely stated that I didn't clearly recall endorsing him. But upon further reflection, I now recall that I did endorse him during a recent Newsmax interview," Klein said in a statement.
"And since then, I've had further conversations with Paul Ingrassia which only strengthened my support of having him confirmed. Paul told me with heartfelt emotion that the October 7 attack by Arab Islamic Hamas terrorists was a 'monstrous atrocity of murder, rape and torture against innocent Jews reminiscent of the Nazi Holocaust.'"
Klein added, "Those words resonated with me especially as a child of holocaust survivors who lost most of my family in the Holocaust."
Klein said Ingrassia, nominated by President Donald Trump in late May to lead the independent corruption-fighting agency that safeguards federal whistleblowers and enforces some ethics laws, also "made clear to me that he finds 'Fuentes' views on denying the Holocaust and viciously and inappropriately condemning the Jewish State of Israel abhorrent and despicable.'"
"Nevertheless, Mr. Ingrassia does 'maintain a very broad interpretation of First Amendment freedom of speech rights; nonetheless when repugnant and repulsive language and ideas are stated or promoted, we are all obligated to strongly and fervently condemn them.' Paul strongly 'condemns jewhatred and obscene Israel-bashing that's based on ugly lies.' Therefore, I do endorse Paul Ingrassia's nomination and confirmation," said Klein.
CNN on Wednesday reported that Klein told the news outlet through a spokesperson that he didn't know Ingrassia and had not endorsed him.
Solange Reyner ✉
Solange Reyner is a writer and editor for Newsmax. She has more than 15 years in the journalism industry reporting and covering news, sports and politics.