{"id":2581291,"date":"2026-03-18T12:06:01","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T16:06:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/paul-tears-into-mullin-for-remarks-on-his-past-assault\/"},"modified":"2026-03-18T12:09:21","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T16:09:21","slug":"paul-tears-into-mullin-for-remarks-on-his-past-assault","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/paul-tears-into-mullin-for-remarks-on-his-past-assault\/","title":{"rendered":"Paul tears into Mullin for remarks on his past assault"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">20<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpaul-tears-into-mullin-for-remarks-on-his-past-assault%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2581291&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Rand Paul, the Republican senator from Kentucky and chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Commitee, sharply criticized Sen. Markwayne Mullin during Mullin\u2019s confirmation hearing to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Paul condemned Mullin\u2019s past remarks about political violence,including statements praising an attack on Paul\u2019s neighbor in 2017,and argued such views raise questions about Mullin\u2019s fitness to oversee an agency responsible for the use of force.Mullin defended himself, insisting he does not advocate violence and telling Paul that he would speak to him face-to-face, while also accusing Paul of political theater and of working against fellow Republicans more than with them. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >confrontation occurred amid broader debate<\/a> over DHS leadership during Donald Trump\u2019s deportation agenda and criticism of the agency\u2019s use-of-force tactics.The article notes the exchange as an unusually tense moment even within the same party, and it references additional related coverage and contextual material.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Rand Paul tears into Markwayne Mullin for remarks on his past assault: &lsquo;Tell it to my face&rsquo;<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_1475145\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/rand-paul\/\">Rand Paul<\/a> (R-KY) lambasted his fellow Republican, Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/markwayne-mullin\/\">Markwayne Mullin<\/a> (R-OK), during Mullin&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/live-blog\/markwayne-mullin-confirmation-hearing-dhs-live-updates\">confirmation hearing<\/a> on Wednesday to become the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.<\/p>\n<p>Paul, chairman of the Senate <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/miles-anonymous-taylor-accidentally-exposes-the-fraudulence-of-the-mainstream-media\/\" title=\"Miles &#039;Anonymous&#039; Taylor Accidentally Exposes the Fraudulence of the Mainstream Media\">homeland security<\/a> committee tasked with advancing Mullin&rsquo;s nomination, condemned the Oklahoma senator for past comments on political violence, including remarks sympathizing with Paul&rsquo;s neighbor for attacking the senator at his Kentucky home in 2017.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4495434\/watch-live-tulsi-gabbard-testimony-senate-global-threats\/\">WATCH LIVE: Tulsi Gabbard testifies before Senate on global threats to US<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4493494\/democratic-presidential-contenders-tax-cuts-woo-gop-voters\/\">Democratic presidential contenders eye tax cuts to woo GOP voters<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4495007\/save-america-act-showdown-relished-gop-democrats\/\">SAVE America Act showdown relished by GOP and Democrats alike<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>&ldquo;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 for the proper use of force,&rdquo; Paul told Mullin. &ldquo;You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me that the assault was justified. So today, you&rsquo;ll have your chance &hellip; Tell it to my face.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/columnists\/4488974\/political-parties-on-perilous-ground\/\"><strong>MICHAEL BARONE: POLITICAL PARTIES ON PERILOUS GROUND<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>A defiant Mullin rebuffed Paul&rsquo;s assertions that he <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-we-know-about-the-armed-queers-group-under-scrutiny-in-kirk-investigation\/\" title=\"What we know about the &#039;Armed Queers&#039; group under scrutiny in Kirk investigation\">supported political violence<\/a> and suggested Paul was disloyal to the party for frequently voting out of step with GOP colleagues.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If I have something to say, I&rsquo;ll say it directly to your face,&rdquo; Mullin said. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve worked with many people in this room. Seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us &hellip; And as far as me saying that I invoke violence, I don&rsquo;t.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Mullin seeks to replace outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, whom President Donald 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 since 2013, is seeking to lead the agency at a tumultuous time over Trump&rsquo;s aggressive deportation agenda carried out by federal immigration officials who serve under DHS. <\/p>\n<p>The exchange marked an extraordinarily tense episode between senators of the same party, eclipsing that of even the combative moments between Mullin and Democratic members of the panel.<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4491222\/doomsayers-wrong-iran-war-is-already-success\/\"><strong>IN FOCUS: THE DOOMSAYERS ARE WRONG ON IRAN. THE WAR IS ALREADY A SUCCESS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) appears before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee as Trump&rsquo;s nominee to lead DHS. (Graeme Jennings \/ Washington Examiner) <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Paul repeatedly suggested Mullin&rsquo;s &ldquo;anger&rdquo; and &ldquo;low impulse control&rdquo; were disqualifying for head of DHS as it faces criticism for its use-of-force tactics, saying the nominee possessed a &ldquo;sheer lack of any kind of self-awareness.&rdquo; Paul said the 2017 attack from his neighbor involved being tackled from behind, resulting in a half-dozen broken ribs and years of health complications with breathing and infections. Mullin <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/arnett.substack.com\/p\/us-senator-markwayne-mullin-policies?utm_source=post-email-title&amp;publication_id=711199&amp;post_id=188378205&amp;utm_campaign=email-post-title&amp;isFreemail=true&amp;r=kib2e&amp;triedRedirect=true&amp;utm_medium=email\">told constituents<\/a> last month that Paul was a &ldquo;freaking snake&rdquo; for often bucking Republicans on floor votes, adding: &ldquo;I understand completely why his neighbor did what he did.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Paul played several clips of Mullin as evidence of the nominee&rsquo;s unfit demeanor, including a 2023 hearing where Mullin challenged Teamsters union head Sean O&rsquo;Brien to a fight and subsequent media interviews where Mullin said he was prepared to physically brawl with the witness. &nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Do you think that justifying that kind of violence sets a good example for the men and women of ICE and Border Patrol?&rdquo; Paul asked.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/live-blog\/markwayne-mullin-confirmation-hearing-dhs-live-updates\/\">LIVE UPDATES: MARKWAYNE MULLIN FACES SENATE IN CONFIRMATION HEARING FOR DHS SECRETARY<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Mullin accused Paul of &ldquo;political theater&rdquo; and noted O&rsquo;Brien, seated directly behind Mullin, was now a close friend.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t believe in political violence,&rdquo; Mullin said. &ldquo;You are making this about you.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Paul slams Mullin over past assault remarks at DHS<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3108,"featured_media":2581292,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2571.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[50503,50410,56760,5531,5112],"class_list":["post-2581291","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-assault-2","tag-controversy-2","tag-mullin-2","tag-paul","tag-remarks"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2571.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2581291","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3108"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2581291"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2581291\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2581295,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2581291\/revisions\/2581295"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2581292"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2581291"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2581291"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2581291"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}