Mullin committee vote could hinge on John Fetterman as Rand Paul vows to oppose
Who's accountable for the results?
The nomination of Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-KY) to be President Donald Trump’s next head of the Department of Homeland Security may hinge on Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) in the face of opposition from Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).
Paul, who chairs the Senate’s homeland security committee, will hold a Thursday vote to advance Mullin’s nomination to the full chamber, just one day after Paul eviscerated Mullin at the nominee’s confirmation hearing.
Paul described his fellow Republican as unfit to lead a massive department overseeing various federal agencies, including immigration enforcement agents. The Kentucky Republican also accused Mullin of endorsing political violence by refusing to apologize for comments sympathizing with a man who violently attacked Paul at his Kentucky home in 2017.
“I think there are anger issues,” Paul said of Mullin. “A guy who brawls, a guy who can’t even say he’s sorry about wishing violence on me… I don’t know how he could, from my point of view, be a leader of [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] or Border Patrol. I will be a ‘no.’”
A defiant Mullin rebuffed Paul’s assertions that he supported political violence and suggested Paul was disloyal to the Republican Party for frequently voting out of step with GOP colleagues.
Paul’s opposition means Mullin will need a Democrat on the committee to cross party lines if his nomination is to stay alive. Republicans would lack the 60 votes needed to discharge Mullin’s nomination from the committee and to the full chamber, should he lose Thursday’s panel vote.
Fetterman was undecided as of Wednesday but acknowledged he could be the deciding vote if no other Democrats on the committee support Mullin.
“I’m in a position to just absorb and take everything, so I’ve listened to every member of the committee,” Fetterman said. “I’m taking in everything, and that’s where I’m still at. I haven’t seen anything shocking.”
Mullin would have little issue securing confirmation by the full chamber, which Republicans control 53-47.
Mullin seeks to replace outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, whom Trump is moving to the newly created post of special envoy for the Shield of the Americas at the end of the month. Mullin, in his first term as a senator after serving five in the House, is seeking to lead the agency at a tumultuous time. Trump’s aggressive deportation agenda, carried out by federal immigration officials who serve under DHS, has sparked controversy after two American citizens were killed in …
Who's accountable for the results?
The nomination of Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-KY) to be President Donald Trump’s next head of the Department of Homeland Security may hinge on Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) in the face of opposition from Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).
Paul, who chairs the Senate’s homeland security committee, will hold a Thursday vote to advance Mullin’s nomination to the full chamber, just one day after Paul eviscerated Mullin at the nominee’s confirmation hearing.
Paul described his fellow Republican as unfit to lead a massive department overseeing various federal agencies, including immigration enforcement agents. The Kentucky Republican also accused Mullin of endorsing political violence by refusing to apologize for comments sympathizing with a man who violently attacked Paul at his Kentucky home in 2017.
“I think there are anger issues,” Paul said of Mullin. “A guy who brawls, a guy who can’t even say he’s sorry about wishing violence on me… I don’t know how he could, from my point of view, be a leader of [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] or Border Patrol. I will be a ‘no.’”
A defiant Mullin rebuffed Paul’s assertions that he supported political violence and suggested Paul was disloyal to the Republican Party for frequently voting out of step with GOP colleagues.
Paul’s opposition means Mullin will need a Democrat on the committee to cross party lines if his nomination is to stay alive. Republicans would lack the 60 votes needed to discharge Mullin’s nomination from the committee and to the full chamber, should he lose Thursday’s panel vote.
Fetterman was undecided as of Wednesday but acknowledged he could be the deciding vote if no other Democrats on the committee support Mullin.
“I’m in a position to just absorb and take everything, so I’ve listened to every member of the committee,” Fetterman said. “I’m taking in everything, and that’s where I’m still at. I haven’t seen anything shocking.”
Mullin would have little issue securing confirmation by the full chamber, which Republicans control 53-47.
Mullin seeks to replace outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, whom Trump is moving to the newly created post of special envoy for the Shield of the Americas at the end of the month. Mullin, in his first term as a senator after serving five in the House, is seeking to lead the agency at a tumultuous time. Trump’s aggressive deportation agenda, carried out by federal immigration officials who serve under DHS, has sparked controversy after two American citizens were killed in …
Mullin committee vote could hinge on John Fetterman as Rand Paul vows to oppose
Who's accountable for the results?
The nomination of Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-KY) to be President Donald Trump’s next head of the Department of Homeland Security may hinge on Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) in the face of opposition from Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY).
Paul, who chairs the Senate’s homeland security committee, will hold a Thursday vote to advance Mullin’s nomination to the full chamber, just one day after Paul eviscerated Mullin at the nominee’s confirmation hearing.
Paul described his fellow Republican as unfit to lead a massive department overseeing various federal agencies, including immigration enforcement agents. The Kentucky Republican also accused Mullin of endorsing political violence by refusing to apologize for comments sympathizing with a man who violently attacked Paul at his Kentucky home in 2017.
“I think there are anger issues,” Paul said of Mullin. “A guy who brawls, a guy who can’t even say he’s sorry about wishing violence on me… I don’t know how he could, from my point of view, be a leader of [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] or Border Patrol. I will be a ‘no.’”
A defiant Mullin rebuffed Paul’s assertions that he supported political violence and suggested Paul was disloyal to the Republican Party for frequently voting out of step with GOP colleagues.
Paul’s opposition means Mullin will need a Democrat on the committee to cross party lines if his nomination is to stay alive. Republicans would lack the 60 votes needed to discharge Mullin’s nomination from the committee and to the full chamber, should he lose Thursday’s panel vote.
Fetterman was undecided as of Wednesday but acknowledged he could be the deciding vote if no other Democrats on the committee support Mullin.
“I’m in a position to just absorb and take everything, so I’ve listened to every member of the committee,” Fetterman said. “I’m taking in everything, and that’s where I’m still at. I haven’t seen anything shocking.”
Mullin would have little issue securing confirmation by the full chamber, which Republicans control 53-47.
Mullin seeks to replace outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, whom Trump is moving to the newly created post of special envoy for the Shield of the Americas at the end of the month. Mullin, in his first term as a senator after serving five in the House, is seeking to lead the agency at a tumultuous time. Trump’s aggressive deportation agenda, carried out by federal immigration officials who serve under DHS, has sparked controversy after two American citizens were killed in …
