Democrats decided not to highlight Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s (R-OK) congressional record during a confirmation hearing for the nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Instead, they focused on disputes with Republicans regarding the department’s ongoing shutdown, the 2020 election, and the credibility of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
On Wednesday, as Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) challenged Mullin, Senate Democrats questioned him about the 2020 election, his international travel while in Congress, and comments from Stephen Miller, a senior adviser to former President Donald Trump.
For instance, Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.)—who was once seen as a rising star in the party—made an unusual assertion in response to President Trump’s address to Congress last year. She suggested that Trump was undermining free elections in the U.S. and hinted that he might attempt to “steal” future elections.
“If we ever reach a point where armed ICE officers are at polling stations, then we’ve truly lost our way as a country,” Slotkin remarked to Mullin when discussing the 2020 election.
“We’ve fundamentally lost trust. Until—someone told me that President Trump would ensure a free and fair election, I have zero faith in that. I can’t believe he wouldn’t try to manipulate the results again.”
Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) echoed concerns about the 2020 election during his exchanges with Mullin.
At the same time, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) posed various questions about Stephen Miller to Mullin. However, Mullin consistently redirected Blumenthal’s inquiries toward Miller, stating that he wasn’t the right person to answer those inquiries.
“Stephen Miller claimed on Fox News that under Trump, ICE aimed for at least 3,000 arrests daily. If confirmed, would you enforce that target?” Blumenthal pressed Mullin.
“I can’t speak for Mr. Miller, but I’m here to lead the Department of Homeland Security,” Mullin responded. After he answered, Blumenthal followed up on whether Miller would stick to that claim.
“I don’t have a specific target,” Mullin stated.
Meanwhile, Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) utilized the latter part of the hearing to discuss the ongoing shutdown at DHS, accusing Republicans of engaging in “political theater” over the matter.
“I’ve heard a lot of dramatic talk from Republicans about a government shutdown,” Peters remarked. “…They’re threatening to hold the TSA, Coast Guard, and FEMA hostage just to avoid sensible guidelines,” he noted.
Peters also quizzed Mullin about his trip to Afghanistan after U.S. troop withdrawal in 2021, as well as his classified travel abroad while serving in Congress.
Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) also commented on the DHS shutdown, calling for a reform of ICE and criticizing agents for allegedly harming innocent Americans “while masked, as if they have no accountability.”
The hearing wrapped up with Sen. Rand Paul addressing Mullin’s confidential travel during his congressional tenure, to which Mullin agreed to discuss privately.
