Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul confronted Markwayne Mullin, the nominee to be the next Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary, about his alleged anger issues during a Senate confirmation hearing Wednesday.
Mullin said on Feb. 14 that he understood why Paul’s neighbor attacked him in November 2017, which caused Paul to suffer from six broken ribs and several bouts of pneumonia. During his opening statement before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Paul suggested that someone who celebrates violence against their political opponents is not qualified to serve as the DHS secretary.
“I was shocked that you would justify and celebrate this violent assault,” Paul said. “It caused me so much pain and my family so much pain. I 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. You might argue you were mad and upset about being confronted by your constituents. But Senator Mullen, your constituents are justifiably upset with you.”
Paul also disputed Mullin’s claim that he directly told Paul that he deserved to be attacked.
“You went on to brag that you’d already told me, to my face, that you completely understood and approved of the assault. Well, that’s a lie,” Paul continued. “You got a chance today. You can either continue to lie or you can correct the record. You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me that the assault was justified. So today you’ll have your chance.”
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Mullin made the remarks during the McGrath Breakfast Group in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he accused Paul of being a “freaking snake” who frequently bucks the Republican Party on crucial votes, according to a Substack post by David Arnett. Mullin refused to apologize for his remarks during the hearing, and does not appear to care about receiving Paul’s confirmation vote, according to Punchbowl News founder Jake Sherman.
HOLY SMOKES. DHS nominee Markwayne Mullin just clapped back at Rand Paul after he called Mullin a “liar”
“If I have something to say, I’ll say it directly to your face…seems like you FIGHT Republicans more than you work with us!”
“For you to say I’m a liar? That’s NOT… pic.twitter.com/tU6yn6NMzB
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 18, 2026
If Paul were to vote against Mullin, then at least one Democrat would have to vote in favor of Mullin for him to be confirmed. Democratic Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman said Friday he would vote to confirm Mullin.
Paul’s then-neighbor, Rene Boucher, ran onto Paul’s lawn in Kentucky and tackled him while the senator was doing yard work. After suffering from broken ribs, Paul said that he had part of his lung surgically removed in August 2019 as a result of the attack.
Trump nominated Mullin on March 5 to replace Kristi Noem as DHS secretary after reportedly not being pleased with her answers in two congressional hearings.
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