Fetterman Breaks Ranks To Advance Mullin In Tense Confirmation Vote

A razor-thin committee vote pushed 👤Markwayne Mullin one step closer to leading the Department of Homeland Security — thanks in part to unexpected support from across the aisle.

According to the New York Post, during a closely watched hearing on Thursday, 👤John Fetterman sided with Republicans to advance Mullin’s nomination out of committee, helping secure an 8-7 vote in favor. Every other member voted along party lines.

The outcome came despite opposition from Rand Paul, the committee’s Republican chairman, who voted against sending Mullin to the full Senate. With the narrow victory, Mullin’s nomination now heads toward a final confirmation vote.

John Thune said a full Senate vote could happen “hopefully early next week.”

Democrats on the panel remained sharply critical. Gary Peters, the committee’s top Democrat, argued Mullin lacks the qualifications needed for the role.

“He has failed to be forthright and transparent” and does not have “the experience or the temperament” to lead the agency, Peters said ahead of the vote.

He also cited a Senate Ethics Committee finding tied to a 2023 confrontation in which Mullin challenged Teamsters president Sean O’Brien to a fight during a hearing.

“When offered multiple public opportunities to clarify the intent of your conduct, you declined to uphold the Senate standard,” Peters read, “and advocated physical violence as a means to resolve political disagreement.”