Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) lambasted his fellow Republican, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), during Mullin’s confirmation hearing on Wednesday to become the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
Paul, chairman of the Senate homeland security committee tasked with advancing Mullin’s nomination, condemned the Oklahoma senator for past comments on political violence, including remarks sympathizing with Paul’s neighbor for attacking the senator at his Kentucky home in 2017.
“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 for the proper use of force,” Paul told Mullin. “You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me that the assault was justified. So today, you’ll have your chance … Tell it to my face.”
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A defiant Mullin rebuffed Paul’s assertions that he supported political violence and suggested Paul was disloyal to the party for frequently voting out of step with GOP colleagues.
“If I have something to say, I’ll say it directly to your face,” Mullin said. “I’ve worked with many people in this room. Seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us … And as far as me saying that I invoke violence, I don’t.”
Mullin seeks to replace outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, whom President Donald Trump is moving to the newly created post of Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas at the end of the month. Mullin, in his first term as a senator after serving five in the House since 2013, is seeking to lead the agency at a tumultuous time over Trump’s aggressive deportation agenda carried out by federal immigration officials who serve under DHS.
The exchange marked an extraordinarily tense episode between senators of the same party, eclipsing that of even the combative moments between Mullin and Democratic members of the panel.
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Paul repeatedly suggested Mullin’s “anger” and “low impulse control” were disqualifying for head of DHS as it faces criticism for its use-of-force tactics, saying the nominee possessed a “sheer lack of any kind of self-awareness.” Paul said the 2017 attack from his neighbor involved being tackled from behind, resulting in a half-dozen broken ribs and years of health complications with breathing and infections. Mullin told constituents last month that Paul was a “freaking snake” for often bucking Republicans on floor votes, adding: “I understand completely why his neighbor did what he did.”
Paul played several clips of Mullin as evidence of the nominee’s unfit demeanor, including a 2023 hearing where Mullin challenged Teamsters union head Sean O’Brien to a fight and subsequent media interviews where Mullin said he was prepared to physically brawl with the witness.
“Do you think that justifying that kind of violence sets a good example for the men and women of ICE and Border Patrol?” Paul asked.
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Mullin accused Paul of “political theater” and noted O’Brien, seated directly behind Mullin, was now a close friend.
“I don’t believe in political violence,” Mullin said. “You are making this about you.”
