- Sen. Markwayne Mullin's nomination for DHS secretary advanced through the Senate Homeland Security Committee with an 8-7 vote.
- Pennsylvania Democrat Sen. John Fetterman crossed party lines to support Mullin, citing their friendship and the need for a DHS leader.
- Committee Chairman Senator Rand Paul opposed Mullin's nomination, demanding an apology for Mullin's past remarks suggesting he 'understood' why Paul was brutally assaulted by a neighbor in 2017.
- Mullin, selected by Trump to replace Kristi Noem, refused to apologize to Paul, stating he did not support the attack but understood it.
- Fetterman's vote drew criticism from fellow Democrat Brendan Boyle, who called him “Trump's favorite Democrat.”
IN FULL