Senate Homeland Security panel advances Mullin nomination to lead DHS

by · UPI

March 19 (UPI) -- The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs voted to advance President Donald Trump's pick to replace Kristi Noem as DHS secretary on Thursday.

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., advanced past the first step toward confirmation by an 8-7 vote from the Senate panel. Chairman Rand Paul, R-Ky., was the only Republican to vote against Mullin's confirmation while Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., was the only Democrat to vote in favor.

Mullin will face a vote from the full Senate next. He needs a simple majority to earn the confirmation.

Paul's "no" vote was expected after he pressed Mullin over his temper and comments he had made about the Senator being assaulted in 2017. Paul confronted Mullin over saying that he understood why Paul's neighbor assaulted him and more recently calling Paul a "freaking snake."

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After Wednesday's hearing, Paul told reporters he would vote against Mullin's confirmation, explaining that he did not believe he was repentant.

"I think there are anger issues," Paul said. "I think there's a lack of contrition, both about the violence that was perpetrated on me, really the violent episode he was involved in the Senate committee where he's told the media, frankly, that he doesn't regret it."

Paul highlighted a 2023 Senate committee hearing in which Mullin challenged union leader Sean O'Brien to a fight. Mullin testified that he and O'Brien are friends. O'Brien was seated behind Mullin during the hearing.

If confirmed, Mullin would lead the department that oversees the Trump administration's mass deportation operation, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

In January, two civilians were killed by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis.

"We're in the midst, I think, of a crisis where there needs to be more direction from the top and a guy who brawls, a guy who can't say sorry about initiating violence on me and really applauding the attack that happened on me, who can't come out to say that, I don't know how in my opinion you'd be a leader of ICE," Paul said.

Fetterman explained his vote in a post on social media.

"In January, I called on the president to fire [Kristi] Noem -- and he did," Fetterman wrote. "I truly approached the confirmation of my colleague and friend, Senator Mullin, with an open-mind. My AYE is rooted in a strong committed, constructive working relationship with Senator Mullin for our nation's security."

Mullin told the panel that his goal as secretary would be for the department to not be "in the lead story every single day."

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