The Senate Homeland Security Committee voted Thursday to advance the nomination of Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to lead the Department of Homeland Security.<\/p>\n
Mullin\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), who chairs the committee, voted against Mullin after a contentious exchange during Wednesday\u2019s confirmation hearing, where Paul raised concerns about what he described as Mullin\u2019s \u201cpattern\u201d of aggressive behavior.<\/p>\n
Paul confronted Mullin with a compilation of video clips, including remarks about settling disputes physically, statements about \u201cnot afraid to bite\u201d in a fight, and Mullin\u2019s previous challenge to the Teamsters president during a congressional hearing.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou told the media that I was a freakin\u2019 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.\u201d<\/p>\n
Paul questioned whether Mullin\u2019s past remarks made him fit to lead an agency responsible for enforcing federal law.<\/p>\n
\u201cI 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,\u201d Paul said.<\/p>\n
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Mullin, however, didn\u2019t apologize or walk back any of his past statements.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverybody in this room knows that I\u2019m very blunt and direct to the point. And if I have something to say, I\u2019ll say it directly to your face,\u201d Mullin said.<\/p>\n
Mullin denied endorsing violence and accused Paul of misrepresenting his record.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs far as me saying that I invoke violence, I don\u2019t think anybody should be hit by surprise,\u201d Mullin said.\u00a0 \u201cIf I do have something to say, everybody in this room knows I\u2019ll come straight to you, I\u2019ll say it publicly and I\u2019ll say it privately, but I\u2019ll never say it behind your back.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mullin also attempted to strike a conciliatory tone, asking Paul to move past their dispute.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet me earn your respect, let me earn the job,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m not perfect, I don\u2019t 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\u2019ll make that commitment to you,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
If confirmed, Mullin would take over an agency facing scrutiny over its handling of immigration enforcement policies.<\/p>\n
During an interview Wednesday, President Donald Trump\u2019s border czar, Tom Homan, said Mullin \u201cdoesn\u2019t know the immigration game very well,\u201d but is relying on \u201cpeople with 30, 40 years of experience to guide him,\u201d adding: \u201cThat\u2019s the way it should be.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n