John Fetterman Provides Key Vote To Advance Nomination Of Markwayne Mullin As DHS Secretary

Sen. John Fetterman was the lone Democrat to support the nomination of Markwayne Mullin as the next Department of Homeland Security secretary.

The nomination made it through the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee by an 8-7 vote. Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who had a testy exchange with Mullin on Wednesday, voted against it.

The Democrats' ranking member in the committee, Gary Peters, said Mullin doesn't have the temperament to lead the agency.

"At his confirmation hearing yesterday, we saw that, unfortunately, Senator Mullin is not up to that challenge. When I heard President Trump would be nominating Senator Mullin, I kept an open mind. However, throughout the nomination process, he has failed to be forthright and transparent. Senator Mullin also showed that he doesn't have the experience or the temperament to lead this critical department," he said.

"There will be no shortage of political disagreements facing the next DHS Secretary the department and the American people deserve a leader who is steady and proven under pressure, not just someone better than the very low bar set by his predecessor," Peters added.

Committee chair Rand Paul had also confronted Mullin the prior day, challenging the Oklahoma Republican over past remarks suggesting he understood why he had been assaulted by a neighbor in 2017.

"Tell me to my face why you think I deserved to be assaulted from behind. Have six ribs broken and a damaged lung," Paul said during Mullin's nomination hearing to lead the Department of Homeland Security. "Tell it to me today. Tell the world why you believe I deserve to be assaulted."

Rand Paul said Mullin had previously referred to him as a "freaking snake" and told reporters he understood why Paul's neighbor attacked him. The Kentucky Republican said those remarks raise questions about Mullin's temperament and suitability to lead an agency responsible for overseeing federal law enforcement bodies such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Border Patrol.

"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," Paul said.

Mullin rejected Paul's characterization of his comments. "I did not say I supported it. I said I understood it. There's a difference," Mullin said. He added that he prefers addressing disagreements directly. "If I have something to say, I'll say it directly to your face."