Senators Rand Paul and Markwayne Mullin got into a heated exchange on Capitol Hill Wednesday as Mullin refused to apologize for previously calling the Kentucky Republican a “freaking snake.”
“I’m not apologizing for pointing out your character,” Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma, told Paul.
Mullin testified before the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee on Wednesday in his confirmation hearing to become the next Department of Homeland Security secretary.
Paul chairs the committee and began the hearing by asking whether “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.”
Paul referred to comments Mullin made at a February constituent event in Tulsa where he called the Kentucky senator a “freaking snake.” Mullin was criticizing Paul’s amendment to an appropriations bill that would stop funding refugee welfare programs.
“Rand Paul’s amendment sounds good, right? The problem is Rand knew that if that bill passed, it would kill the other eleven appropriation bills, which would throw us into the [government] shutdown,” Mullin told constituents before indicating Paul is not straightforward in his politics.
Mullin then said he “understood completely why [Paul’s] neighbor did what he did,” referring to a 2017 incident when Paul’s neighbor attacked him over a lawn dispute, landing Paul in the hospital with severe injuries.
“You offer no apology today and no regrets,” Paul said to Mullin during the Wednesday hearing. “Haven’t heard the word apologize. Haven’t heard the word regret. Haven’t heard ‘I misspoke.’”
“Sir, actually, it wasn’t heated,” Mullin said, adding that he would not apologize for his past comments.
“Good, good,” Paul said. “So you’re jolly well fine, and you want the American public and the people up here that may or may not vote for you to know that you supported the felonious violent attack on me from behind?”
“I did not say I supported it. I said I understood it. There’s a difference,” Mullin answered.
Paul also questioned Mullin over a 2023 incident when Mullin, during a hearing, challenged Teamsters President Sean O’Brien to a fight, telling him to “stand your butt up.”
“Do you think fighting as a resolution for political differences is a good example for the men and women of [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] and Border Patrol?” Paul asked Mullin after playing the clip of the incident during the hearing.
Mullin then pointed out that his “good friend” O’Brien was seated directly behind him in the hearing room.
“Both of us have had conversations. Both of us have shaken hands, and both of us have agreed we could have done things different. Sean [O’Brien] is someone who has become a close friend,” Mullin said.
Despite the line of questioning from Paul during Mullin’s confirmation hearing, Mullin is expected to receive the necessary support to be confirmed as the next DHS secretary, replacing Kristi Noem.
Trump tapped Mullin to be the next Homeland Security secretary after Noem served in the role for a little over a year. The president reportedly had frustrations with Noem over her handling of the position and testimonies she delivered before the House and Senate in early March.
