Mullin survives bruising hearing with Dem help, inches one step closer to becoming next DHS chief
What's the endgame here?
A Senate Democrat proved the decisive vote to advance Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., to the next round of his confirmation journey after an explosive hearing.
That’s because Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, vowed not to support Mullin, whom he contended was "unfit" for the role.
Mullin countered that if he had a problem with somebody, he would say it to their face. More so, he hoped to prove to Paul and Senate Democrats on the panel that he was the right pick for the job.
'TELL ME TO MY FACE': TOP MOMENTS IN MULLIN'S HEATED CONFIRMATION HEARING TO BE TRUMP'S NEXT DHS CHIEF
"I’m going to earn the job, I won’t fail you," Mullin said. "I won’t back down from a challenge. And I’ll also admit when I’m wrong. I’m not perfect. I don’t claim to be perfect. I make mistakes just like anybody else. But mistakes, if you own them, you can learn from them and you can move ahead. And I’ll make that commitment to you."
And, like several times on the Senate floor, Paul and Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., flip-flopped votes. Fetterman was the only Democrat on the panel to back Mullin, and without his vote, Republicans’ plans to sprint through the confirmation process would have been dealt a stiff blow.
Fetterman acknowledged that he could be the difference-maker after the hearing.
SCHUMER WEAPONIZES MULLIN NOMINATION TO DEMAND DHS OVERHAUL, SAYS 'ROT' GOES BEYOND NOEM
"I came here and committed to come here with an open mind, and I’m going to continue to do that," Fetterman said. "It’s not going to be about gotcha moments for me. My experience with you has been consistent and professional."
Mullin’s confirmation to become the next Department of Homeland Security secretary will now head to the Senate floor in the coming days and will require just a simple majority vote for him to be given the green light for the position.
But several Senate Democrats may not support him because of the ongoing fight over the DHS shutdown. Democrats have demanded stringent reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection throughout the shutdown battle.
"I will not be supporting Senator Mullin’s nomination should it come before the Senate," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said. "The problems at DHS, especially at ICE and CBP, run far deeper than just who is in charge."
Still, Mullin survived a sometimes jovial, sometimes grueling back-and-forth during the hearing. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., believed that once out of committee, Mullin would have broad support across the …
What's the endgame here?
A Senate Democrat proved the decisive vote to advance Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., to the next round of his confirmation journey after an explosive hearing.
That’s because Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, vowed not to support Mullin, whom he contended was "unfit" for the role.
Mullin countered that if he had a problem with somebody, he would say it to their face. More so, he hoped to prove to Paul and Senate Democrats on the panel that he was the right pick for the job.
'TELL ME TO MY FACE': TOP MOMENTS IN MULLIN'S HEATED CONFIRMATION HEARING TO BE TRUMP'S NEXT DHS CHIEF
"I’m going to earn the job, I won’t fail you," Mullin said. "I won’t back down from a challenge. And I’ll also admit when I’m wrong. I’m not perfect. I don’t claim to be perfect. I make mistakes just like anybody else. But mistakes, if you own them, you can learn from them and you can move ahead. And I’ll make that commitment to you."
And, like several times on the Senate floor, Paul and Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., flip-flopped votes. Fetterman was the only Democrat on the panel to back Mullin, and without his vote, Republicans’ plans to sprint through the confirmation process would have been dealt a stiff blow.
Fetterman acknowledged that he could be the difference-maker after the hearing.
SCHUMER WEAPONIZES MULLIN NOMINATION TO DEMAND DHS OVERHAUL, SAYS 'ROT' GOES BEYOND NOEM
"I came here and committed to come here with an open mind, and I’m going to continue to do that," Fetterman said. "It’s not going to be about gotcha moments for me. My experience with you has been consistent and professional."
Mullin’s confirmation to become the next Department of Homeland Security secretary will now head to the Senate floor in the coming days and will require just a simple majority vote for him to be given the green light for the position.
But several Senate Democrats may not support him because of the ongoing fight over the DHS shutdown. Democrats have demanded stringent reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection throughout the shutdown battle.
"I will not be supporting Senator Mullin’s nomination should it come before the Senate," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said. "The problems at DHS, especially at ICE and CBP, run far deeper than just who is in charge."
Still, Mullin survived a sometimes jovial, sometimes grueling back-and-forth during the hearing. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., believed that once out of committee, Mullin would have broad support across the …
Mullin survives bruising hearing with Dem help, inches one step closer to becoming next DHS chief
What's the endgame here?
A Senate Democrat proved the decisive vote to advance Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., to the next round of his confirmation journey after an explosive hearing.
That’s because Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who chairs the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, vowed not to support Mullin, whom he contended was "unfit" for the role.
Mullin countered that if he had a problem with somebody, he would say it to their face. More so, he hoped to prove to Paul and Senate Democrats on the panel that he was the right pick for the job.
'TELL ME TO MY FACE': TOP MOMENTS IN MULLIN'S HEATED CONFIRMATION HEARING TO BE TRUMP'S NEXT DHS CHIEF
"I’m going to earn the job, I won’t fail you," Mullin said. "I won’t back down from a challenge. And I’ll also admit when I’m wrong. I’m not perfect. I don’t claim to be perfect. I make mistakes just like anybody else. But mistakes, if you own them, you can learn from them and you can move ahead. And I’ll make that commitment to you."
And, like several times on the Senate floor, Paul and Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., flip-flopped votes. Fetterman was the only Democrat on the panel to back Mullin, and without his vote, Republicans’ plans to sprint through the confirmation process would have been dealt a stiff blow.
Fetterman acknowledged that he could be the difference-maker after the hearing.
SCHUMER WEAPONIZES MULLIN NOMINATION TO DEMAND DHS OVERHAUL, SAYS 'ROT' GOES BEYOND NOEM
"I came here and committed to come here with an open mind, and I’m going to continue to do that," Fetterman said. "It’s not going to be about gotcha moments for me. My experience with you has been consistent and professional."
Mullin’s confirmation to become the next Department of Homeland Security secretary will now head to the Senate floor in the coming days and will require just a simple majority vote for him to be given the green light for the position.
But several Senate Democrats may not support him because of the ongoing fight over the DHS shutdown. Democrats have demanded stringent reforms to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection throughout the shutdown battle.
"I will not be supporting Senator Mullin’s nomination should it come before the Senate," Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said. "The problems at DHS, especially at ICE and CBP, run far deeper than just who is in charge."
Still, Mullin survived a sometimes jovial, sometimes grueling back-and-forth during the hearing. Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., believed that once out of committee, Mullin would have broad support across the …
