Senators Rand Paul and Markwayne Mullin go after each other during Mullin’s confirmation hearing for DHS. Credit: C-SPAN screenshot
An ugly scene unfolded during Senator Markwayne Mullin’s (R-OK) DHS confirmation hearing today as Senator Rand Paul (RINO-KY) decided to settle a personal score with him.
Paul decided to take his time to address something that Mullins said about him after a long-ago assault. As TGP readers know, Paul was attacked by his neighbor in November 2017 over a property dispute.
He suffered six broken ribs and, later, a damaged lung.
Mullin, who was a congressman at the time, later said that he “completely” understood why Paul was attacked.
An angry Paul slammed Mullin as a coward and a liar. Then demanded that Mullin look him in the eye and tell the world he deserved to be assaulted.
WATCH:
BREAKING: TENSE moment as Sen. Rand Paul just confronted DHS Sec. nominee Markwayne Mullin — “Tell it TO MY FACE!”
“You told the media I was a ‘FREAKING SNAKE’ and you understood why I was assaulted.”
“Today…TELL IT TO MY FACE. If that’s what you believe! Tell the world why… pic.twitter.com/Q77awluVA0
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 18, 2026
PAUL: You told the media I was a freaking snake, and you understood why I was assaulted.
I was shocked you would justify and celebrate this violent assault that caused me and my family so much pain.
I just wonder if someone who applauds violence against political opponents is the right person to lead an agency is the right person to lead an agency.
You might argue you were mad and upset about being confronted by your constituents. Your constituents are justifiably upset with you.
By now, most of America knows that the Somali welfare fraud in Minnesota is still over $9 billion.
Instead of defending these votes, you chose to lash out at me.
You bragged that you already told me to my face that you completely understood and approved of the assault. Well, that’s a lie.
You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me the assault was justified. Today, I will give you that chance.
Tell it to my face, if that’s what you believe. Tell the world why you believe I deserve to be assaulted from behind, have six ribs broken, and a damaged lung.
Tell me to my face why you think I deserved it.
Mullin declined to apologize and fired back with equal vigor. He also made clear that, regardless of his dislike for Paul, he would represent Kentucky as much as Oklahoma if confirmed as Director of Homeland Security.
He concluded by saying “I can set it aside if you’re willing to set it aside.”
HOLY SMOKES. DHS nominee Markwayne Mullin just clapped back at Rand Paul after he called Mullin a “liar”
“If I have something to say, I’ll say it directly to your face…seems like you FIGHT Republicans more than you work with us!”
“For you to say I’m a liar? That’s NOT… pic.twitter.com/tU6yn6NMzB
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 18, 2026
MULLIN: Sir, I think everyone in this room knows I’m pretty blunt. If I have something to say, I’ll say it directly to your face.
You were in a room. I simply addressed that I could understand, because of your behavior, why your neighbor did what he did.
As far as the term “snake in the grass,” I work around this room to try to fix problems…Seems that you fight Republicans more than work with us.
As far as me saying I invoke violence? I don’t think anyone should be hit by surprise. But if I have something to say, I will say it straight to you.
And for you to say I’m a liar? That’s not accurate. And I got proof, you spent millions of dollars in my campaigns against me.
However, sir, that doesn’t keep me from doing my job.
I can have differences with anybody in this room, but as Secretary of Homeland Security, I’ll be protecting everybody, including Kentucky, as much as I will my own backyard in Oklahoma.
It’s bigger than the partisan bickering that we have. It’s bigger than the political differences we have.
The truth is, I have a job to do, and I don’t like to fail at anything at all.
I can set it aside if you’re willing to set it aside.
Paul, though, refused to do so.
JUST IN: Rand Paul and Markwayne Mullin get into a TENSE back-and-forth
PAUL: You offered no apology. And you offer no apology today, and no regrets! Haven’t heard the word apologize, haven’t heard the word regret!
MULLIN: Sir, actually it wasn’t heated, and I’m NOT… pic.twitter.com/aSrjo3xJG7
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) March 18, 2026
PAUL: You offered no apology. And you offer no apology today, and no regrets. Haven’t heard the word apologize, haven’t heard the word regret.
Haven’t heard I misspoke, or it was heated, or a mistake.
MULLIN: Sir, actually, it wasn’t heated, and I’m not apologizing for pointing out your character.
PAUL: Good, good. So you’re jolly well fine, and you want the American public, and the people up here to vote, that may or may not vote for you, to know that you supported the felonious, violent attack on me from behind.
MULLIN: I did not say I supported it. I said I understood it. There’s a difference.
PAUL: So that means you really didn’t approve of it, you just said you understood it. What do you think most people would interpret, completely understand to be, support for, or a condemnation of the violence?
MULLIN: Sir, as I said, we can have our differences, it’s not gonna keep me from doing my job as Secretary of Homeland Security. I’m gonna secure Kentucky, and take care of Kentucky as much as I am Oklahoma.
The post FIREWORKS! Rand Paul and Markwayne Mullin Tear into Each Other After Paul Brings Up What Mullin Said After Kentucky Senator Was Assaulted By Neighbor (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.