DHS Nominee Mullin Pressed on 2020 Election, Tribal Consultation

WASHINGTON – Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), President Trump’s nominee to serve as secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), faced tough questioning Wednesday before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.

In his opening remarks, Mullin said he was humbled by the president’s nomination. The senator, a tribal citizen of the Cherokee Nation, did not mention his dual citizenship. He spoke about growing up in Westville, Oklahoma, and overcoming a speech impediment.

“My story has only been possible because we live in America—the greatest nation on Earth—which we are proud to call our home,” Mullin said.

He also praised DHS employees for their service.

“I want to say: the employees across DHS, including the Coast Guard, TSA, Secret Service, ICE, and Border Patrol (just to name a few)—you all do a fantastic job keeping our nation safe,” Mullin said. “The Department of Homeland Security is bigger than any political party. Regardless of whether or not you support me, if I’m confirmed, I’ll fight for your family just as I’ll fight for mine.”

Mullin then faced sharp questions from senators on both sides of the aisle, particularly regarding controversies surrounding the Trump administration’s policies since the appointment of former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem to lead DHS.

In his opening statement, Committee Chair Rand Paul (R-KY) confronted Mullin over past comments about Paul following a 2017 assault by a neighbor.

Mullin had previously told the media that Paul was a “freaking snake” and that he understood why Paul’s neighbor attacked him.

“You told the media that I was a ‘freaking snake’ and that you completely understood why I had been assaulted. I was shocked that you would justify and celebrate this violent assault that caused me so much pain and my family so much pain,” Paul said.

“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 to the proper use of force.”

“You have never had the courage to look me in the eye and tell me that the assault was justified, so today you’ll have your chance,” Paul added.

Mullin did not apologize and said he had made those comments directly to Paul during a previous encounter.

“As far as my terms ‘snake in the grass,’ sir, I work around this room to try to fix problems. I’ve worked with many people in this room. It seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us,” Mullin said.

“And as far as me saying that I invoke violence—I don’t think anybody should be hit by surprise. I don’t like that. But if I do have something to say, everybody in this room knows. I’ll come straight to you, I’ll say it publicly and I’ll say it privately, but I’ll never say it behind your back. So for you to say I’m a liar, sir, that’s not accurate.”

As the hearing prorgessed, Mullin said he is up to the challenge to run DHS.

“I’m not scared of a challenge. I am scared of failure. So, I will work hard each day,” Mullin said.

Mullin pledged to work daily to support DHS employees and protect the homeland.

“My goal is in six months, we are not in the lead story every day,” Mullin said.

Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) questioned Mullin about the Trump administration’s lack of tribal consultation on border infrastructure projects, particularly those affecting sacred lands.

“One concern I have, when it comes to building some of these installations on the border, there has been very little to no tribal consultation, especially with some of our border tribes in the Tohono O’odham Nation, where […] there is a border wall going through tribal land—sacred land—that is not crossed or used by human smugglers. It is important DHS speak to these communities,” Gallego said. “But this last [DHS] did not talk to them whatsoever. […] I think it is important we reestablish tribal sovereignty.”

Mullin agreed to work with tribal nations, stating, “I appreciate tribal sovereignty. We do have a job to secure the border, but we will work with tribal nations because there are other ways to have a physical barrier.”

Gallego also raised concerns about reports that Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents are being directed to investigate Arizona’s 2020 election results—claims that have been widely debunked and previously questioned by Mullin. HSI focuses on major crimes such as drug trafficking, human smuggling, and child exploitation, and Gallego warned that redirecting agents could undermine public safety.

“HSI is specifically very important because they specialize in dealing with human trafficking, human smuggling, counterfeit, bank fraud, things of that nature,” Gallego said. “The reason I bring this up is because there’s confirmed reports that the Secretary of Homeland Security has ordered HSI agents, pulled them off what I just told you were very important missions, to go to Arizona and investigate the 2020 election results. That is a very big concern of mine because these agents should be doing the work they are doing.”

Gallego then pressed Mullin directly.

“Do you believe Joe Biden won Arizona in the 2020 presidential election? I ask because you’re potentially deploying HSI agents to Arizona to check the result, using our taxpayer dollars to follow up on a conspiracy theory,” Gallego continued. “No one in the Department of Homeland Security should be used to investigate an election conspiracy.”

Mullin declined to answer, responding, “Nor am I here to debate what happened in 2020.”

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