‘

WASHINGTON ― The wheels came off the car at the moment Markwayne Mullin’s confirmation hearing begins On Wednesday morning, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) lashed out at the Homeland Security secretary nominee over long-standing personal disputes between the two.

Paul, who chairs the Senate Homeland Security Committee, He spent most of his time attacking Mullin for previous comments he made about his neighbor physically assaulting Paul in 2017, an incident that left Paul with broken ribs and long-term health issues. President Donald Trump recently appointed Mullin, a Republican senator from Oklahoma, to replace Kristi Noem at the head of the Department of Homeland Security.

“You told the media that I was a fucking snake and that you completely understood why I had been attacked,” Paul told Mullin. “I wonder if someone who applauds violence against his political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits on the appropriate use of force.”

The Kentucky Republican also accused Mullin of lying by directly telling Paul that he thought he deserved to be assaulted.

“Tell me to my face why you think I deserved it,” Paul fumed. “And while you’re at it, tell the American public why they should trust a man with anger issues to set the right example for ICE and Border Patrol agents.”

He He downloaded all of this within the first 10 minutes of the hearing, before the senators’ questioning began. When it was Mullin’s turn to speak, he questioned Paul’s claim that he was “a liar” and said he does not tolerate violence. But Mullin did himself no favors, repeatedly saying he could “understand” why Paul’s neighbor violently attacked him.

He also criticized Paul, who controls when (or if) the committee takes a vote to advance Mullin’s nomination.

“It seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us,” Mullin told Paul, later adding, “You’ve spent millions of dollars on my campaigns against me. Because we just don’t get along.”

AP/GETTY

The hearing moved forward a bit, until Paul came back to haunt Mullin, never again. apologizing for saying he deserved to be physically attacked.

“The record should show, and I believe it will show, a lack of contrition, no apology and no regret for their support,” the Kentucky senator said. “What bothers you is that I called you a liar because… it’s really more about this machismo that you have.”

He played a video clip for Mullin’s committee. almost starting a fist fight with Sean O’Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, during a Senate hearing in 2023. Days after that incident, Mullin said in an interview that “sometimes you just have to punch people in the face.”

“Is that still your opinion?” Pablo asked. “That political disputes can sometimes and often only be resolved through violence?”

As they talked to each other, Mullin took another swipe at the president: “Sir, I get it. For you it’s about defaming your character. That’s how this game is played… And you’re making this about yourself.”

“Character assassination, when you’re the one throwing the insult?” -Paul snapped. “Who do you think started that character assassination? I’m just repeating what you did in the character assassination!”

Soon, Paul asked Mullin if he supported dueling to resolve disputes.

Citing the Oklahoma Republican’s previous comments that suggested Scourges and duels as justified violence, Paul brought out the In 1856 he whipped Senator Charles Sumner and asked Mullin if he thought this was justified. summer, an abolitionist Republican from Massachusetts, was nearly whipped to death on the Senate floor by Representative Preston Brooks, a pro-slavery Democrat from South Carolina.

“What I was simply pointing out are some of the rules that still apply to this body. For example, dueling with two consenting adults is still there,” Mullin began.

“It’s been illegal for 170 years,” Paul interjected. “There is no precedent for legal duels.”

Despite all their clashes, when the hearing concluded hours later, the Kentucky senator said he expected the committee to vote to advance Mullin’s nomination on Thursday. There is a caveat, however: Mullin first has to meet with senators in a secure room to explain a trip he took in 2016 that he said is classified, something that raised questions among committee members.

And Pablo later told reporters will vote “no” on Mullin’s nomination.