Department of Homeland Security

Markwayne Mullin's History of Condoning Murder and Resisting Transparency Makes Him Ill-Suited To Run DHS

The Oklahoma senator, nominated to replace Kristi Noem, is blasé about the use of deadly force.

Jacob Sullum | 3.18.2026 3:05 PM

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(C-SPAN)

Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R–Okla.), President Donald Trump's nominee to replace Kristi Noem as secretary of homeland security, appeared before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs today as part of the confirmation process. Inconveniently for Mullin, the chairman of that committee is Sen. Rand Paul (R–Ky.), who has a grudge against him because of comments that Mullin recently made about Paul.

While answering questions from voters at the McGrath Breakfast Group in Tulsa last month, Mullin called Paul "a freaking snake," adding that "I understand completely why" Paul's neighbor in Bowling Green, Rene Boucher, assaulted him in November 2017. That attack, which left Paul with six broken ribs and a damaged lung, resulted in a federal charge against Boucher, who was sentenced to 30 days in jail and a $10,000 fine for assaulting a member of Congress.

Paul opened Mullin's confirmation hearing by castigating the nominee for implicitly condoning violence against a Senate colleague, which he said cast doubt on whether Mullin has the right temperament to "lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits to the proper use of force." Paul also noted that Mullin had threatened International Brotherhood of Teamsters President Sean O'Brien with violence during a 2023 Senate hearing. Paul asked Mullin if he could "explain to the American public why they should trust a man with anger issues to set the proper example for ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] and Border Patrol agents."

If Mullin's hotheadedness raises questions about his suitability for this job, so do things he has calmly said with ample opportunity for reflection. Mullin is an enthusiastic supporter of Trump's murderous military campaign........

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