Mullin faces explosive DHS listening to as Rand Paul feud, Dem skepticism threaten path

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Frustrations, friendship and questions of temperament dominated the affirmation listening to for Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., because the Senate sprints to substantiate him to guide the Division of Homeland Safety (DHS).

The listening to, led by Senate Homeland Safety and Governmental Affairs Chair Rand Paul , R-Ky., began with a tense change between him and Mullin and ended with questions on whether or not the committee would even maintain a affirmation vote.

President Donald Trump tapped Mullin to exchange outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. The Senate has little time to maneuver by the method, provided that Trump set a deadline of March 31 to have Mullin put in as the subsequent Homeland Safety chief.

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Chairman Sen. Rand Paul speaks as Sen. Markwayne Mullin, President Donald Trump's nominee to be Homeland Safety secretary, testifies earlier than a Senate Homeland Safety and Governmental Affairs Committee affirmation listening to on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., March 18, 2026. (Reuters/Evan Vucci; Oliver Contreras/AFP through Getty Photos)

Paul plans to oppose him, that means that except Mullin can generate help from Democrats on the panel, his nomination can be considerably slowed.

It was quick, explosive and marred by the continuing DHS shutdown, which entered its thirty third day on Wednesday. Under are prime moments from the back-and-forth that can resolve whether or not Mullin will get the job to guide the embattled company.

‘Inform me to my face’ The listening to instantly opened with fireworks over Mullin’s comments that Paul’s 2017 assault, which left him with a number of damaged ribs and the removing of a part of his lung, was "justified."

Paul accused Mullin of by no means having "the braveness to look me within the eye and inform me that the assault was justified."

"I simply marvel if somebody who applauds violence towards their political opponents is the suitable individual to lead an agency that has struggled to simply accept limits to the correct use of pressure," Paul stated.

Mullin shot again earlier than launching into his opening remarks, saying Paul known as him a "liar," and argued, "everyone on this room is aware of that I am very blunt and direct and to the purpose."

"And if I've one thing to say, I will say it on to your face. Should you recall, again in my Home days, we really did have this dialog due to remarks that I made."

"You have been in a room. I merely addressed that," he continued. "I stated I may perceive, due to the conduct you have been having, that I may perceive why your neighbor did what he did."

‘These phrases most likely ought to have been retracted’ Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., the panel's prime Democrat, pressed Mullin on his accusation that Alex Pretti, who was shot and killed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) brokers in Minnesota, was a "deranged person that got here in to trigger max injury."

Sens. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Gary Peters, D-Mich., grilled Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., throughout his affirmation listening to to develop into the subsequent DHS chief. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Photos)

"May we anticipate these sorts of fast responses in case you are confirmed as secretary?" Peters stated. "Would you be — mainly — have been you responding as Secretary Noem, are we going to anticipate that very same conduct over again?"

Mullin didn’t push again towards Peters’ query.

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"These phrases most likely ought to have been retracted," Mullin stated. "I should not have stated that. If secretary, I would not. The investigation is ongoing."

"And there's — like I stated — there's generally going to make errors, and I personal that one. I went on the market too quick. I used to be responding instantly with out the details," he continued. "That is my fault. That will not occur as secretary."

Fetterman breaks with Dems Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., isn't any stranger to bucking his personal social gathering, and he’ll probably do it once more throughout Mullin’s affirmation vote.

Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., speaks to a reporter as he arrives within the U.S. Capitol for a vote on Dec. 3, 2025. (Invoice Clark/CQ-Roll Name, Inc. through Getty Photos)

The pair grew to become pleasant throughout a congressional delegation journey and have maintained that relationship ever since.

And he acknowledges that he’ll probably be the important thing vote to substantiate his colleague.

"I got here right here and dedicated to come back right here with an open thoughts, and I’m going to proceed to do this. It is not going to be about gotcha moments for me. My expertise with you has been constant and professionalism," Fetterman stated.

However Fetterman additionally took a second to blast his social gathering for persevering with to dam DHS funding and famous that he was "the one Democrat that refused to close our DHS down."

"It’s a wierd devotion. I don’t perceive why you'll shut the complete company down simply since you need these sorts of reforms on ICE which have completely no affect on ICE and don’t pressure any of these issues," Fetterman stated. "I refuse to do this."

Mullin's categorised journey The character of a shadowy journey Mullin took whereas serving within the Home practically derailed his anticipated affirmation vote on Thursday.

Peters questioned the lawmaker about an undisclosed journey taken between 2015 and 2016 and charged that "fairly frankly, as we’ve had these conversations, you haven't been forthcoming with me or this committee."

"The story at all times appears to evolve, to form of change, and as you already know, candor, honesty, transparency are completely essential, significantly right now, to attempt to construct belief because the secretary of Homeland Safety," Peters stated.

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Paul requested Mullin to clarify the journey in a categorised setting and threatened to cancel the listening to in any other case.

"I am nonetheless prepared to have the vote tomorrow, however I can cancel the vote tomorrow," Paul stated. "I am nonetheless prepared to have the vote, get this completed and get it over with."

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Mullin argued that, to his data, solely 4 individuals have been conscious of the small print of the journey, and he didn't have the authority to inform Paul or Peters.

"I might actually get pleasure from sitting there and having a dialog with you, as a result of I do not need you to have questions or query my character on this," Mullin stated. "That is quite simple for me, however I am unable to make that authorization. You guys know that."