Business meeting to consider the nomination of Markwayne Mullin, of Oklahoma, to be Secretary of Homeland Security

Title

Committee votes to advance Markwayne Mullin's nomination for DHS Secretary

Purpose

The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held a business meeting to consider the nomination of Markwayne Mullin, of Oklahoma, to be Secretary of Homeland Security, following his confirmation hearing the previous day. Ranking Member Peters used the meeting to voice opposition to the nomination, and the committee then voted on whether to report the nominee favorably to the full Senate. Begins at▶ 0:20:12

Who spoke

• Chair Rand Paul▶ 0:20:12: Opened the meeting, noted a quorum was present, and recognized Ranking Member Peters▶ 0:20:12; later asked if Republicans wished to speak▶ 0:22:21, directed the clerk to call the roll▶ 0:22:21, and announced the final vote of 8 yeas to 7 nays reporting the nominee favorably▶ 0:23:05.

• Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), Ranking Member▶ 0:20:24: Said DHS needs a leader who can restore trust and that Mullin "is not up to that challenge"▶ 0:20:24, criticizing him for failing to be forthright and transparent during the nomination process▶ 0:20:24; cited a Senate Ethics Committee letter admonishing Mullin over a 2023 incident in which he attempted to physically fight a witness in a Senate hearing, quoting the committee's finding that he "advocated physical violence as a means to resolve political disagreement"▶ 0:21:16▶ 0:21:35; stated he would vote no▶ 0:22:05.

Key moments

• Peters said the bipartisan Senate Ethics Committee reviewed Mullin's conduct after he attempted to physically fight a witness during a 2023 Senate hearing and found his actions improper▶ 0:21:16.

• Peters quoted the ethics committee's admonishment letter stating Mullin "declined to uphold the Senate standard" and "advocated physical violence as a means to resolve political disagreement"▶ 0:21:35.

• Peters announced he would vote no on the nomination, citing concerns about Mullin's experience, temperament, and willingness to condone political violence▶ 0:22:05.

• No Republican committee members spoke in response when Chair Paul asked if anyone wished to be heard▶ 0:22:21.

• The committee voted to report Mullin's nomination favorably to the full Senate by a vote of 8 yeas to 7 nays▶ 0:23:05.