During a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing on March 18, 2026, Chairman Rand Paul confronted nominee Markwayne Mullin over past comments justifying Paul's 2017 assault and Mullin's history of violent rhetoric. Mullin defended himself without apologizing and faced questions on a classified trip and remarks about recent shootings. The committee planned a closed briefing and vote soon after.
The confirmation hearing for Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) as Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary, nominated by President Trump to replace Kristi Noem, turned contentious on March 18, 2026. Committee Chairman Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) opened by detailing his 2017 neighbor assault, which caused six broken ribs, a damaged lung, infections, and pneumonias. Paul accused Mullin of calling him a “freaking snake” and saying he “understood” the attack, questioning if Mullin had “anger issues” unfit for leading ICE and Border Patrol agents serving over 250,000 people. Paul played clips of Mullin nearly fighting Teamsters President Sean O’Brien—who attended in support—and endorsing canings, duels, and biting in fights. Mullin responded, “I did not say I supported the attack. I said I understood it,” and noted, “Seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us.” He offered, “So I can set it aside, if you’re willing to set it aside. Let me earn your respect... I’ll also admit when I’m wrong.” Mullin suggested dueling between “two consenting adults” remained viable, though Paul noted it has been illegal for 170 years. Sens. Paul and Gary Peters (D-MI) questioned Mullin’s decade-old “official, classified” trip known to only “four people,” which he refused to detail publicly; a closed briefing followed that afternoon, with a vote planned Thursday. Peters pressed Mullin on calling Alex Pretti, killed by Border Patrol in Minneapolis in January, a “deranged individual that came in to cause max damage.” Mullin said, “I went out there too fast... That’s my fault. That won’t happen as secretary,” and would apologize to Pretti’s family if proven wrong. He doubled down on Renee Good’s shooting, calling her car a “lethal weapon.” Amid a DHS shutdown furloughing over 100,000 employees, Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) remained supportive but open-minded. Paul confirmed he opposes Mullin.
