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It’s Official: Rand Paul Is Of Zero Value to the GOP After Attacking Markwayne Mullin

POLITICS

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) is of the opinion that Donald Trump made a mistake by selecting Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) to replace the removed Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary, as Mullin had previously wronged him by suggesting that Paul was deserving of the 2017 assault by his neighbor that resulted in fractured ribs.

On Wednesday, Paul had the opportunity to question Mullin during a Senate DHS confirmation hearing. It was apparent from the beginning that their interaction would be contentious, as Paul allegedly prevented Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) from introducing the nominee.

Fox’s Bill Melugin:

NEW: Per source familiar, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) blocked Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) from introducing Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) at his confirmation hearing this morning. Britt & Mullin are good friends and Britt is the Chair of DHS appropriations in the Senate. She was planning to introduce him, but @FoxNews is told Paul, the Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, wouldn’t allow it.

Later, Paul grilled Mullin over his past comments regarding the attack:

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, clearly emotional about it, pressed Mullin further:

You went on to brag that you had already told me to my face that you completely understood and approved of the assault. Well, that’s a lie. You’ve got a chance today. You can either continue to lie or you can correct the record. 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.

Mullin, not one to shy away, acknowledged that the two have a contentious relationship but requested Paul to give him a chance to earn his respect. He insisted that they discussed it openly, face to face:

“For you to say I’m a liar? That’s NOT accurate. And I got PROOF, you spent millions of dollars in my campaigns against me.”

Mullin gave back as good as he got from Paul:

I have to address the remarks the chairman made calling me a liar. Sir, I think there’s everybody in this room knows that I’m very blunt and direct to the point, and if I have something to say, I’ll say it directly to your face.

If you recall back in my House days, we actually did have this conversation…

I simply addressed that I said I could understand, because of the behavior you were having, that I could understand why your neighbor did what he did…

Seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us.

I did address those remarks… And as far as me saying that I invoke violence, I don’t. 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 am a liar, sir, that’s not accurate.

It’s evident that these two are unlikely to head out for a beer together anytime soon. We’ll have to wait and see whether this personal clash has a significant impact on Mullin’s chances or if it’s merely a bump in the road on his path to confirmation.

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