Rand Paul rejects Trump DHS nominee over comments | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Mullin faced questions about remarks involving Paul and political violence during his confirmation hearing.

SOURCE CHECK
TAP FOR WHYCredibility rates Honolulu Star-Advertiser, which republished this story. The other scores rate the article itself.
Reuters is an established wire service with strong reporting standards, and its byline identifies the reporting source. The article is republished by a regional newspaper rather than presented as its own original reporting.
- Source type — Reuters is a major international wire service with a strong record of factual reporting.
- Author attribution — The Reuters byline clearly identifies the reporting organization.
- Editorial standards — Wire-service reporting generally follows established verification and editing practices.
The report includes named statements from senators on both sides of the nomination dispute and gives Mullin’s response. It provides useful context about DHS and immigration enforcement, though much of the account relies on remarks at the hearing and offers limited independent evidence beyond those statements.
HOW WE SCORE ↗The story includes Paul’s objections, Mullin’s response, supportive senators, and concerns raised by Democrats. The focus on the dispute leaves less space for a fuller account of Mullin’s qualifications or the competing policy views on DHS.
- Counterarguments presented — Mullin’s response and support from Fetterman, Thune, and Lankford appear alongside criticism.
- Source diversity — The account quotes lawmakers from both parties and the nominee.
- Omitted context — The report gives limited detail on Mullin’s qualifications and the policy debate over DHS.
- Loaded language — Most evaluative language is attributed to lawmakers or appears in direct quotations.
The article uses restrained language and attributes criticism and support to the senators who voiced them. It reports the dispute without adopting a clear partisan position.
- Language tone — The report uses attributed descriptions and quotations rather than overtly partisan language.
- Source selection — It includes criticism, support, and Mullin’s response from multiple senators.
- Framing — The framing centers on the confirmation dispute and its stated reasons.
Republished with credit
Republished from Reuters, with credit to the original publisher.
125 stories · 95–96 · updated Oct 9, 2026
This is Reuters's own score, and this article is credited to Reuters. The host score in the Source Check is Honolulu Star-Advertiser's.
Sen. Rand Paul said he would oppose advancing Markwayne Mullin’s nomination to lead Homeland Security, citing Mullin’s remarks about political violence. At Mullin’s confirmation hearing, other senators voiced support and concerns as the committee prepared to vote.
Paul said he would oppose advancing Mullin’s nomination after challenging him at a confirmation hearing over remarks about Paul and a 2017 attack on him. Mullin had said he understood why Paul’s neighbor attacked him; at the hearing, he expressed regret for other comments but declined to apologize and asked Paul for a chance to prove himself.
The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee was scheduled to vote on the nomination on Thursday. John Fetterman said he would support Mullin, while John Thune expected the nomination to pass. James Lankford praised Mullin, and Gary Peters raised concerns about Mullin’s statements and DHS’s handling of immigration enforcement.
Community verdict
22 VOTESPeople in this story
SWIPE →Senator nominated to lead the Department of Homeland Security
Senator and committee chairman opposing advancement of Mullin’s nomination
Paul's version of this story ↗President who nominated Mullin and fired Noem
Senate majority leader who expected Mullin’s nomination to be approved
Senator who said he would support Mullin’s nomination
Former Homeland Security secretary criticized for her department’s management
Oklahoma senator who praised Mullin at the hearing
Committee’s top Democrat who criticized Noem and questioned Mullin’s temperament
Part of a bigger story
21 OUTLETSMarkwayne Mullin faced a Senate confirmation hearing to lead the Department of Homeland Security. Senators questioned him about past remarks, and he responded to criticism during the hearing. Left-leaning outlets emphasize Mullin’s remarks about violence and questions about his judgment; center outlets place those exchanges among wider questions about his travel and DHS plans; right-leaning outlets mix clashes with Paul with supportive reactions and a counterfocus on Paul’s own history.
- ARTICLES
- 25
- OUTLETS
- 21
- AVG CRED
- 69
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