Rand Paul Declares ‘NO’ Vote on Mullin for DHS Secretary — Warns “Anger Issues” Make Him Unfit to Lead ICE, Border Patrol
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chair Rand Paul (RINO-Ky.) said he does not plan to back Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) to lead the Department of Homeland Security.
His remarks came after a blowup between the two during Mullin’s confirmation hearing, where Paul confronted Mullin for calling him a “snake” and saying he understood why Paul’s neighbor attacked him.
The Gateway Pundit previously reported that Paul confronted Mullin by revisiting one of the most traumatic episodes of his life, the 2017 assault by his neighbor that left him with six broken ribs and a punctured lung, accusing Mullin of having previously justified the attack.
PAUL: “You told the media I was a freaking snake, and you understood why I was assaulted.
I was shocked you would justify and celebrate this violent assault that caused me and my family so much pain.
I just wonder if someone who applauds violence against political opponents is the right person to lead an agency… the right person to lead an agency.
You might argue you were mad and upset about being confronted by your constituents. Your constituents are justifiably upset with you.
By now, most of America knows that the Somali welfare fraud in Minnesota is still over $9 billion.
Instead of defending these votes, you chose to lash out at me.
You bragged that you already told me to my face that you completely understood and approved of the assault. Well, that’s a lie.
You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me the assault was justified. Today, I will give you that chance.
Tell it to my face, if that’s what you believe. Tell the world why you believe I deserve to be assaulted from behind, have six ribs broken, and a damaged lung.
Tell me to my face why you think I deserved it.”
Mullin, a former MMA fighter, refused to back down or apologize, instead doubling down and accusing Paul of being the real problem inside the GOP.
Mullin insisted he never supported violence, only that he “understood” the frustration behind it.
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After the explosive exchange, Paul made his position crystal clear: he’s a hard NO.
Paul warned that Mullin’s temperament and refusal to show remorse disqualify him from leading one of the most powerful law enforcement agencies in the country.
Reporter: Planning on voting for this nominee?
Rand Paul: I think there are anger issues. I think there's a lack of contrition, both about the violence that was perpetrated on me, but really the violent episode he was involved in. He's had a committee where he's told the media, frankly, that he doesn't regret it. He's also told the media there, as he said it again today, that there's historical precedent for violence, that caning and dueling happened all the time.
Paul continued: And I pointed out, well, it was illegal 170, 200 years ago. They would actually flee, and they would do it in areas they could find where the law didn't reach. Sometimes they would actually go to Canada. Sometimes they'd go from one state to the other. But the mass of civilized response, even in the 1850s or 1830s, was against dueling.
Paul: That's why dueling was made illegal. The fact that he can't bring himself to say that, you know, really we shouldn't settle political questions with violence, I think that would be a terrible example for ICE and for our Border Patrol agents. 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 even say he's sorry about, you know, wishing violence on me and really applauding the attack that happened on me, can't come to say that. I don't know how he could, from my point of view, be a leader of ICE or Border Patrol.
Reporter: So that's a no or a maybe?
Rand Paul: I am a No.
WATCH:
🚨 JUST IN: Rand Paul confirms he will NOT vote to confirm Markwayne Mullin for DHS Secretary
Paul says Mullin’s “anger issues” would “be a terrible example for ICE and Border Patrol.”
However, FETTERMAN has signaled his support for Mullin, meaning he will likely be CONFIRMED pic.twitter.com/YmNrmwwrxl
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) March 18, 2026
Paul’s opposition alone is unlikely to derail Mullin’s path out of committee, particularly with Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) signaling his support.
The committee is scheduled to convene on Thursday morning to take up Mullin’s nomination.
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