LIVE: Trump homeland nominee Mullin testifies at confirmation hearing

Refusal to apologize for assault comments

Mullin defended his past statement that he "understood" why Rand Paul's neighbor assaulted him, refusing to apologize despite Paul's demand for contrition regarding the attack that broke six ribs and removed part of his lung.

Distinction between understanding and supporting violence

Mullin maintained he never supported the violence but understood the motivation due to Paul's character, while Paul accused him of lacking self-awareness and fitness to lead an agency with use-of-force authority.

Questions about temperament and impulse control

Paul cited a near-physical altercation on the Senate floor where Mullin threatened to "jump over the dice" as evidence of anger issues that could undermine leadership of ICE and Border Patrol agents.

Oklahoma roots and business background

Introduced by Senator James Lankford, Mullin highlighted his upbringing in Westville, Oklahoma, expanding his family's small plumbing company into one of the state's largest businesses, and his 14 years serving in Congress.

Bipartisan work ethic emphasized

Lankford praised Mullin's hands-on approach illustrated by a story of him digging through tornado debris to shut off water at an elementary school, and noted his ability to bring people together across party lines.

Border security statistics cited

Supporters noted illegal southwest border crossings dropped 96% from 12,000 per day to current levels, though Mullin acknowledged remaining challenges with FEMA and other agencies within the department's 22 components.

Emergency funding situation stressed

Mullin emphasized that 280,000 DHS employees have worked 30 days without pay, urging Congress to set aside partisanship to fund the department immediately so workers can operate effectively upon his potential confirmation.

Six-month reputation goal

Mullin stated his objective is to make DHS effective enough that it is no longer the daily "lead story," restoring public confidence while securing the homeland through dedicated service.