The Senate Homeland Security Committee voted Thursday to advance the nomination of Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to lead the Department of Homeland Security.
Mullin’s nomination will now head to a full Senate vote after clearing the committee in an 8-7 vote. The vote largely followed party lines, though Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) broke with Democrats to support the nomination.
(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who chairs the committee, voted against Mullin after a contentious exchange during Wednesday’s confirmation hearing, where Paul raised concerns about what he described as Mullin’s “pattern” of aggressive behavior.
Paul confronted Mullin with a compilation of video clips, including remarks about settling disputes physically, statements about “not afraid to bite” in a fight, and Mullin’s previous challenge to the Teamsters president during a congressional hearing.
The Kentucky senator also referenced a 2017 assault in which he was seriously injured by a neighbor, accusing Mullin of previously appearing to justify the attack.
“You told the media that I was a freakin’ snake and that you completely understood why I had been assaulted. I was shocked that you would justify and celebrate this violent assault that caused me so much pain, and my family so much pain.”
Paul questioned whether Mullin’s past remarks made him fit to lead an agency responsible for enforcing federal law.
“I just wonder if someone who applauds violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits to the proper use of force,” Paul said.
(Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Mullin, however, didn’t apologize or walk back any of his past statements.
“Everybody in this room knows that I’m very blunt and direct to the point. And if I have something to say, I’ll say it directly to your face,” Mullin said.
Mullin denied endorsing violence and accused Paul of misrepresenting his record.
“As far as me saying that I invoke violence, I don’t think anybody should be hit by surprise,” Mullin said. “If I do have something to say, everybody in this room knows I’ll come straight to you, I’ll say it publicly and I’ll say it privately, but I’ll never say it behind your back.”
Mullin also attempted to strike a conciliatory tone, asking Paul to move past their dispute.
“Let me earn your respect, let me earn the job,” he said. “I’m not perfect, I don’t claim to be perfect. I make mistakes just like anybody else. But mistakes, if you own them, you can learn from, and you can move ahead. And I’ll make that commitment to you,” he added.
If confirmed, Mullin would take over an agency facing scrutiny over its handling of immigration enforcement policies.
During an interview Wednesday, President Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, said Mullin “doesn’t know the immigration game very well,” but is relying on “people with 30, 40 years of experience to guide him,” adding: “That’s the way it should be.”
