Mace hits Mullin over Paul spat, calls selection as DHS secretary ‘unreal’

Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) went after Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) over his tension with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), which was prominently on display during a hearing Wednesday on his possible new role as Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary.

“There’s a difference between right and wrong. Every one knows this is wrong and few have spoken up,” Mace said in a post on the social platform X on Thursday. 

“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,” she added.

Mace’s post featured a clip from the hearing posted by Paul, in which he pressed Mullin about calling him a “snake” and saying he understood why Paul’s neighbor attacked him.

“You told the media that I was a ‘freaking snake’ and that you completely understood why I had been assaulted. I was shocked that you would justify and celebrate this violent assault that caused me so much pain and my family so much pain,” Paul said in his opening remarks.

“I just wonder if someone who applauds violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled to accept limits to the proper use of force.”

“You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me that the assault was justified, so today you’ll have your chance,” Paul said.

DHS has been mired in controversy in recent months, especially after the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis in January. Democrats have demanded changes to immigration enforcement and have kept DHS shut down for more than a month by refusing to compromise on legislation that does not include immigration reforms.

The department’s secretary, Kristi Noem, was booted from the job a few weeks ago to serve in a different position, with Mullin nominated to become her replacement.

On Thursday, Mullin’s nomination to lead DHS advanced out of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

The Hill has reached out to Mullin’s office for comment. 

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