Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., told Newsmax on Wednesday that he will not vote to confirm Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., to lead the Department of Homeland Security because of Mullin's anger issues.
At a confirmation hearing, Paul confronted Mullin over comments the Oklahoma lawmaker made when he said he could understand why Paul's neighbor assaulted him in 2017.
"During the assault, I had six ribs broken," Paul said on "Rob Schmitt Tonight."
"Three of them snapped completely in half, rubbing together for months on end. My lung was damaged and I had multiple pneumonia. I ended up having to have part of my lung removed.
"I ... don't take it kindly when someone says, oh yeah, you kind of got what you deserved," Paul added. "Well, he can hardly expect me to be supporting his candidacy when he seems to be justifying the political violence that happened to me."
Paul also pointed to the time Mullin threatened to fight someone in a Senate committee hearing.
"He said that people deserved to be smashed and punched in the mouth," Paul said. "When he asked whether he would reject any of that, he said, 'Well, we've had dueling and caning for a long time, and these are things we do in the Senate.'"
"Well, those things have been illegal for 170 years," Paul added. "I wonder with his anger issues and his justification of violence, whether or not he's the best person or would set the best example for our ICE agents and Border Patrol agents."
"What I worry about is when you're chief of police or you're in charge of the federal immigration police, they need to see an example from you," Paul continued.
Paul said he doesn't think it would be appropriate for the person in charge of Immigration and Customs Enforcement to think brawling is acceptable and to reminisce fondly about duels and canings in the Senate.
"Markwayne Mullin thinks there's a historical precedent for why we sometimes have to use violence in the Senate. That's completely inexcusable."
"It should make him unfit in anybody's mind to lead ICE and CBP," he said, referring to Customs and Border Protection.
"My fear is someone like Markwayne Mullin, who glorifies violence, will send the wrong message to ICE and CBP," Paul added.
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Sam Barron ✉
Sam Barron has almost two decades of experience covering a wide range of topics including politics, crime and business.
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