Oklahoma Senator Markwayne Mullin expressed regret on Wednesday for calling Alex Pretti, a Minnesota man killed earlier this year by federal immigration officers, a “deranged individual.” His comments came under scrutiny during a tense Senate confirmation hearing as lawmakers weighed his nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security, following President Donald Trump’s decision to fire Kristi Noem.
The hearing, which stretched to three hours, covered the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown, the potential expansion of ICE detention centers, and the agency’s use of judicial warrants. Mullin faces the challenge of leading DHS as it enters its fifth week without funding, leaving hundreds of thousands of employees unpaid. The Senate committee is expected to vote Thursday on whether to advance his nomination to the full chamber.
Mullin Walks Back Pretti Remarks
A major focus of the hearing was Mullin’s past comment about Alex Pretti, the 37-year-old fatally shot by federal agents in Minneapolis in January. Mullin previously described Pretti as “deranged” and intent on causing harm. Questioned by Senator Gary Peters, a Michigan Democrat, Mullin said he regretted the remark but stopped short of apologizing, saying he would wait until the investigation’s conclusion. He promised that, if confirmed, he would avoid making similar personal comments as Homeland Security secretary.
Shutdown Concerns Dominate
The DHS shutdown was impossible to ignore. The department has been without funding since February, as Congress remains deadlocked over immigration policy. Republicans blamed Democrats for failing to approve a budget, while Democrats said they’ve offered targeted funding if reforms to ICE operations were included.
Mullin urged both sides to end the standoff. “We have to realize that we’re putting our homeland and the peace of mind of the American people at risk,” he said. “Sometimes it’s political theater, sometimes it’s real differences. But we’re playing with fire.”
More than 280,000 DHS employees have missed paychecks. TSA workers, considered essential, continue to work without pay—though more than 300 have quit, according to DHS. Call-out rates have also doubled since the funding lapse began.
ICE Under a New Direction?
Democrats pressed Mullin on how he’d manage ICE differently than Noem. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut grilled him on the agency’s alleged practice of entering homes without warrants during Trump’s deportation push. Mullin insisted he’s made clear that agents should use judicial warrants unless pursuing a suspect in real time. When Blumenthal cited a whistleblower claim about ICE agents “breaking into homes,” Mullin criticized the senator for using the phrase “loosely.”
New Jersey Democrat Andy Kim asked whether Mullin would consult communities before approving new detention centers. Mullin said he would, adding that he’d personally visit towns and speak with mayors before making those decisions.
Republican Clash: Paul vs. Mullin
The hearing opened with tension between Mullin and committee chair Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican. Paul began by recalling a 2017 incident when his neighbor attacked him, leaving him with broken ribs. Mullin had previously expressed understanding of the attacker’s anger, prompting Paul to tell him, “I wonder if someone who applauds violence against their political opponents is the right person to lead an agency that has struggled with proper use of force.”
Mullin refused to apologize, instead sparring with Paul throughout the session. “It seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us,” he shot back. “Let me earn your respect. Let me earn the job.”
Paul appears unlikely to vote in Mullin’s favor, but with support from Democratic Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, the nomination is still expected to move out of committee.
A Surprising Reconciliation
Mullin, known for his blunt and sometimes confrontational style, ended the hearing on a surprisingly warm note. Before proceedings began, Sean O’Brien, president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, took a front-row seat. The two had famously clashed in a 2023 Senate hearing when O’Brien called Mullin “a greedy CEO who pretends like he’s self-made,” nearly sparking a physical fight.
This time, the tension was gone. When Mullin entered the room, he shook only O’Brien’s hand—and later said they’ve since become friends.
