Republican Nancy Mace: ‘Unreal’ Mullin is being considered for DHS secretary
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HUNT VALLEY, Md. (TNND) — Representative Nancy Mace, the South Carolina Republican, said Thursday it’s “unreal” that Senator Markwayne Mullin is being considered to lead the Department of Homeland Security.
She wrote in a social media post that Mullin’s comments about Senator Rand Paul, the Kentucky Republican who was injured in a 2017 attack by a neighbor, were violent in nature. Mullin told a group of people in his home state of Oklahoma last month that he understood why Paul was targeted.
“There’s a difference between right and wrong. Every one knows this is wrong and few have spoken up,” Mace said on X. “Rand Paul had to have part of his lung removed after he was assaulted. Unreal we would promote someone who advertises violence as the answer when they have a political disagreement.”
Mullin has defended his remarks, telling Paul during a Wednesday committee hearing for his nomination that he wouldn’t apologize. The Oklahoman later advanced to the full Senate by an 8-7 vote, with Paul joining six Democrats to oppose him.
Mullin could face a final vote next week.
Paul cited Mullin’s comments about his attack for his “no” vote. He told Fox News on Wednesday that Mullin’s defense of the remarks indicates he’s unfit for office.
“If he says the violence that happened to me, where I had six ribs broken, my lung damaged, part of my lung removed, two pneumonias – if he thinks that’s justifiable and he can readily understand it, he can completely understand it, I think that makes him unacceptable and unfit to hold office,” Paul said.
Mullin added during the committee hearing that he doesn’t support violence but believes Paul’s behavior provoked the attack.
The Senate will likely confirm him, as only a simple majority is needed. There are 53 Republicans in the chamber, and at least one Democrat – John Fetterman – has signaled support for Mullin.
President Donald Trump nominated him earlier this month, when he announced his reassignment of Secretary Kristi Noem. Trump said that Noem had given the administration “spectacular results,” but her struggle to handle various controversies may have been too distracting for him.
During a March 3 congressional hearing, Noem defended her decision to run a $220 million TV ad campaign, which some Republicans called excessive. Other senators also demanded she resign for her handling of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and several immigration enforcement issues.
Trump’s approval ratings for immigration – and several other areas – had also fallen from the start of his term.
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