Democratic Sen. John Fetterman solid the deciding vote Thursday to advance Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to function US Department of Homeland Security secretary, crossing party lines to ship President Donald Trump’s nominee to the complete Senate for consideration.
He defined in a post on X his resolution to be part of Republicans on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee in backing the Oklahoma Republican senator to exchange outgoing DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
“In January, I called on the president to fire Noem—and he did. I truly approached the confirmation of my colleague and friend, Senator Mullin, with an open-mind,” Fetterman wrote.
“We need a leader at DHS. We must reopen DHS. My AYE is rooted in a strong committed, constructive working relationship with Senator Mullin for our nation’s security,” he continued.
If confirmed, Mullin will lead a division of greater than 260,000 staff that oversees vital companies together with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Transportation Security Administration and the Coast Guard.
Trump introduced earlier this month that he was transferring Noem to a brand new place and naming Mullin to exchange her.
The committee voted to advance his nomination 8-7.
The panel’s advice hinged on Fetterman’s resolution after Republican Chairman Rand Paul declared he wouldn’t support Mullin, citing considerations with the Oklahoma senator’s temperament.
During Mullin’s grilling by some of his Senate colleagues Wednesday, Paul reprised a long-simmering feud through which Mullin known as him a “snake” and mentioned he “understood” why Paul’s neighbor had attacked him in 2017. Paul additionally cited a 2023 listening to through which Mullin appeared prepared to physically fight a witness.
“I was shocked that you would justify and celebrate this violent assault that caused me so much pain and my family so much pain. 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,” Paul of Kentucky advised Mullin in the course of the listening to.
Repeatedly, Paul pressed Mullin to apologize for his feedback, however Mullin refused. Instead, Mullin argued the pair ought to “set it aside,” and transfer ahead with contemplating his nomination.
“I can set it aside, if you’re willing to set it aside. Let me earn your respect. Let me earn the job. I won’t fail you. I won’t back down from a challenge,” he mentioned.
After the back-and-forth, Fetterman inspired each males to transfer on.
“I know there’s a lot of hard personal feelings here, and absolutely I would, I — It’s terrible, what’s happened and political violence, I mean, it’s, it’s rampant so now. But also, also President O’Brien’s here, not for round two. He’s here because he fully supports your … so it’s about, it’s about letting it go and moving on,” Fetterman mentioned, referencing President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters Sean O’Brien – the witness on the 2023 listening to.
At the highest of Thursday’s assembly, the highest Democrat on the committee, Sen. Gary Peters, mentioned he deliberate to vote no on the nomination and likewise questioned whether or not the lawmaker had the “experience or the temperament” to serve within the function.
Majority Leader John Thune has mentioned he hopes to maintain a full Senate vote on Mullin’s nomination early subsequent week.