Senate committee advances Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to lead homeland security

Republican senator’s nomination will now be considered by full Senate, where the GOP appears poised to confirm him Sign up for the Breaking News US email to get newsletter alerts in your inbox A key Senate committee on Thursday advanced Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on a near party line vote, a day after the Republican senator faced questions at his confirmation hearing about his approach to Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda and accusations of encouraging violence. Nearly all eight Republicans on the Senate committee on homeland security and governmental affairs voted to advance Mullin’s nomination, with the sole exception of the panel’s chair, Rand Paul of Kentucky, who the day prior had harshly criticized his colleague for comments he made about a neighbor who assaulted Paul in 2017, and an incident six years later in which Mullin readied himself to fight a witness at a committee hearing. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania was the sole Democrat to support Mullin’s nomination, with his other six colleagues opposing him. Mullin’s nomination will now be considered by the full Senate, where Republicans appear to