Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s confirmation hearing for DHS Secretary

During his round of questioning, Paul continued to criticize Mullin for what he said was a penchant for violent rhetoric, saying he was only interested in “machismo.”

“The sheer lack of any kind of self-awareness that you’re going to be leading thousands of men and women who will have the use of force and there’s been great questions in our country on how that will be used, and you think a violent attack is just fine,” he said.

Paul said that Mullin, sitting before him, still refused to apologize for the comments about him and his 2017 assault.

“You offered no apology, and you offer no apology today, and no regrets,” the Kentucky senator said. “Haven’t heard the word apologize. Haven’t heard the word regret. Haven’t heard ‘I misspoke and it was heating and I made a mistake.'”

Paul said Mullin was “jolly well fine” with the American people and senators who will vote on his nomination knowing that he “supported the felonious violent attack on me from behind.”

Mullin said that he did not say he supported the attack, but “understood it.”

“There’s a difference,” he said.

Paul then played a video that showed Mullin threatening to fight Teamsters President Sean O’Brien during a November 2023 hearing before the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee.

“Do you think fighting as a resolution for political differences is a good example for the men and women of ICE and Border Patrol?” Paul asked.

Mullin noted that O’Brien was in attendance at the hearing, which he said demonstrated that the two have since settled their differences.

“I don’t believe in political violence, I’ve made that clear,” he said, accusing Paul of engaging in “character assassination” against him.