Peters presses Mullin to explain past comments: ‘Where did you smell war?’

Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) largely declined to explain his past trips overseas, saying such information was “classified” as he faced scrutiny from Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) over a series of remarks implying he had been on military missions.

Mullin, who is facing the Senate Homeland Security Committee for his confirmation hearing to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is not a veteran but has come under fire for numerous statements indicating he is familiar with the dynamics of active combat.

“Where did you ‘smell war,’ sir?” Peters asked.

Mullin said he was involved in a trip as a House member that was to help do some training, but he offered few specifics.

“I just said that this was classified, and the dates, locations and the mission,” he said.

“But in 2015 I was asked to train with a very small contingency and go to a certain area…I have spoken general about my experiences, but I’ve never spoke specifically on details, on dates or on the mission, and that was official,” he said, adding that just four or so people were involved in the trip.

Mullin said he did not disclose the trip on his confirmation paperwork because you don’t have to report official government trips.

Mullin has frequently nodded to work overseas without offering specifics, and in a comment to The Washington Post described the travel as mission work.

“War is ugly. It smells bad. If anybody has ever been there and been able to smell the war that’s happening around you and taste it and feel it in your nostrils and hear it, it’s something you will never forget,” Mullin said earlier this month during an appearance on Fox News.

During a podcast appearance the next day, he said he’s never directly worked for the Department of Defense.

“I never wore the uniform or the flag on my shoulder, but I might have been in the same area,” he said.

Peters implied Mullin hadn’t detailed the matters fully as would have been expected in paperwork.

“The letter that we sent you said that we need to have information of any of these activities,” Peters said.

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