Geoff Bennett:
Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin today faced his fellow lawmakers for a confirmation hearing to run the Department of Homeland Security.
Amna Nawaz:
The hearing became heated and emotional at times, as senators grilled Mullin on past comments and how he might differ from former DHS head Kristi Noem.
Lisa Desjardins was in the room covering it all and has this report.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY):
So help you God.
Lisa Desjardins:
For Markwayne Mullin, a lesson, the difference between being a senator and being a nominee.
Sen. Rand Paul:
Explain to the American public why they should trust a man with anger issues.
Lisa Desjardins:
Committee Chairman and fellow Republican Rand Paul blasted the Homeland Security nominee on rare and personal grounds. In February, Mullin called Paul a freaking snake for not always voting with Republicans and said he understood why someone attacked Paul in 2017.
Sen. Rand Paul:
Tell the world why you believe I deserved to be assaulted from behind, have six ribs broken and a damaged lung.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), DHS Secretary Nominee: Well, stand your butt up then.
Lisa Desjardins:
Paul also raised Mullin’s near fistfight in a different committee in 2023.
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT):
No, no, sit down.
Sean O’Brien, General President, Teamsters:
That’s why you’re a clown. Look at you.
Sen. Bernie Sanders:
You know, you’re a United States senator.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin:
And as far as me saying that I invoke violence, I don’t. I don’t think anybody should be hit by surprise. I don’t like that. But if I do have something to say, everybody in this room knows I will come straight to you. I make mistakes just like anybody else. But mistakes, if you own them, you can learn from them and you can move ahead.
Sen. Ashley Moody (R-FL):
That’s the kind of person, passionate, fierce, a fighter, loyal, that’s who I want now protecting this country.
Lisa Desjardins:
Other Republicans pushed back against the criticism.
Sen. Bernie Moreno (R-OH):
And maybe you’re not going to replace Shakespeare’s the next greatest orator on earth. You talk from the heart. And that’s OK. You are who you are.
Lisa Desjardins:
For Democrats, the question was, who will he be if in charge? They raised the nationwide DHS immigration crackdown and its aggressive tactics, as well as the killings by federal agents of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.
Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI):
You called Alex Pretti — quote — “a deranged individual that came in to cause max damage.”
Could we expect those kinds of quick responses if you are confirmed?
Sen. Markwayne Mullin:
I went out there too fast. I was responding immediately without the facts. That’s my fault. That won’t happen as secretary.
Lisa Desjardins:
Still, he did not apologize to the families of either, saying he will wait for investigations to complete. But Mullin did signal a possible and notable shift for DHS agents, suggesting a higher bar for entering private homes or businesses.
Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ):
They were going in to get interviewed for a green card and were arrested upon their arrival.
Lisa Desjardins:
And when asked, he indicated a reluctance to detain people at legal immigration appointments.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin:
People are going through the process and trying to obtain it legally, because we do have naturalization ceremonies Monday through Friday and as a country everywhere.
Man:
That’s right.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin:
We’re going to continue work with those individuals.
Lisa Desjardins:
But he tripled down on his history of election denialism.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI):
Who won the 2020 election?
Sen. Markwayne Mullin:
Ma’am, we know that President Joe Biden was sworn into office. And he was the president for the last four years.
(Crosstalk)
Lisa Desjardins:
Refusing to say that President Trump lost the 2020 election.
Mullin did not rule out sending federal officers to polling places, an idea the president’s allies have floated, but DHS has until now dismissed.
Sen. Elissa Slotkin:
Do you feel you have the authority to put uniformed officers at polling locations in 2026?
Sen. Markwayne Mullin:
Ma’am, we said this in your office. The only reason why my officers would be there, if there was a specific threat.
Lisa Desjardins:
It was Republican Paul who was Mullin’s greatest hazard, announcing he will vote no on him. That would usually be a problem. But Democrat John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is a yes.
Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA):
My experience with you has been consistent kindness and professionalism.
Lisa Desjardins:
A hearing that was personal, high-stakes, and included a surprise.
MAN:
It was in a conflict zone.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin:
Sir, once again, I’m not talking about specific details.
Lisa Desjardins:
Mullin said he traveled overseas on a classified trip as a member of the House.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin:
But I can’t give you all the details to it because it’s not for me to release it. Mullin pledged to tell senators more in a secure setting. And with that promise, the committee is on track to vote on Mullin incredibly quickly, tomorrow.
Sen. Rand Paul:
This hearing is adjourned.
Lisa Desjardins:
For the “PBS News Hour,” I’m Lisa Desjardins.
