GEOFF BENNETT: Oklahoma Senator# Markwayne Mullin today faced his## fellow lawmakers for a confirmation hearing# to run the Department of Homeland Security.

AMNA NAWAZ: The hearing became heated and# emotional at times, as senators grilled## Mullin on past comments and how he might# differ from former DHS head Kristi Noem.

Lisa Desjardins was in the room# covering it all and has this report.

SEN.

RAND PAUL (R-KY): So help you God.

LISA DESJARDINS: For Markwayne Mullin,## a lesson, the difference between# being a senator and being a nominee.

SEN.

RAND PAUL: Explain to the American public# why they should trust a man with anger issues.

LISA DESJARDINS: Committee Chairman and fellow# Republican Rand Paul blasted the Homeland## Security nominee on rare and personal grounds.

In# February, Mullin called Paul a freaking snake for## not always voting with Republicans and said he# understood why someone attacked Paul in 2017.

SEN.

RAND PAUL: Tell the world# why you believe I deserved to be## assaulted from behind, have six# ribs broken and a damaged lung.

SEN.

MARKWAYNE MULLIN (R-OK), DHS Secretary# Nominee: Well, stand your butt up then.

LISA DESJARDINS: Paul also raised Mullin's near# fistfight in a different committe.. SEN.

BERNIE SANDERS (I-VT): No, no, sit down.

SEAN O'BRIEN, Genera.. SEN.

BERNIE SANDERS: You know, you're a United States senator.

SEN.

MARKWAYNE MULLIN: 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 will come# straight to you.

I make mistakes just like## anybody else.

But mistakes, if you own them,# you can learn from them and you can move ahead.

SEN.

ASHLEY MOODY (R-FL): That's# the kind of person, passionate,## fierce, a fighter, loyal, that's who# I want now protecting this country.

LISA DESJARDINS: Other Republicans# pushed back against the criticism.

SEN.

BERNIE MORENO (R-OH): And maybe you're# not going to replace Shakespeare's the next## greatest orator on earth.

You talk from the# heart.

And that's OK.

You are who you are.

LISA DESJARDINS: For Democrats, the question# was, who will he be if in charge?

They## raised the nationwide DHS immigration# crackdown and its aggressive tactics,## as well as the killings by federal# agents of Renee Good and Alex Pretti.

SEN.

GARY PETERS (D-MI): You called# Alex Pretti -- quote -- "a deranged## individual that came in to cause max damage."

Could we expect those kinds of quick# responses if you are confirmed?

SEN.

MARKWAYNE MULLIN: I went out# there too fast.

I was responding## immediately without the facts.

That's my# fault.

That won't happen as secretary.

LISA DESJARDINS: Still, he did not# apologize to the families of either,## saying he will wait for investigations to# complete.

But Mullin did signal a possible and## notable shift for DHS agents, suggesting a higher# bar for entering private homes or businesses.

SEN.

ANDY KIM (D-NJ): They were# going in to get interviewed for## a green card and were arrested upon their arrival.

LISA DESJARDINS: And when asked, he indicated a## reluctance to detain people at# legal immigration appointments.

SEN.

MARKWAYNE MULLIN: People are going through# the process and trying to obtain it legally,## because we do have naturalization ceremonies# Monday through Friday and as a country everywhere.

MAN: That's right.

SEN.

MARKWAYNE MULLIN: We'.. LISA DESJARDINS: But he tripled down# on his history of election denialism.

SEN.

ELISSA SLOTKIN (D-MI):# Who won the 2020 election?

SEN.

MARKWAYNE MULLIN: Ma'am, we# know that President Joe Biden was## sworn into office.

And he was the# president for the last four years.

LISA DESJARDINS: Refusing to say that# President Trump lost the 2020 election.

Mullin did not rule out sending# federal officers to polling places,## an idea the president's allies have# floated, but DHS has until now dismissed.

SEN.

ELISSA SLOTKIN: Do you feel# you have the authority to put## uniformed officers at polling locations in 2026?

SEN.

MARKWAYNE MULLIN: Ma'am, we said# this in your office.

The only reason## why my officers would be there,# if there was a specific threat.

LISA DESJARDINS: It was Republican Paul who was# Mullin's greatest hazard, announcing he will vote## no on him.

That would usually be a problem.

But# Democrat John Fetterman of Pennsylvania is a yes.

SEN.

JOHN FETTERMAN (D-PA): My experience with you# has been consistent kindness and professionalism.

LISA DESJARDINS: A hearing that was personal,# high-stakes, and included a surprise.

MAN: It was in a conflict zone.

SEN.

MARKWAYNE MULLIN: Sir, once again,# I'm not talking about specific details.

LISA DESJARDINS: Mullin said he traveled overseas# on a classified trip as a member of the House.

SEN.

MARKWAYNE MULLIN: But I can't give you# all the details to it because it's not for me## to release it.

Mullin pledged to tell senators# more in a secure setting.

And with that promise,## the committee is on track to vote on# Mullin incredibly quickly, tomorrow.

SEN.

RAND PAUL: This hearing is adjourned.

LISA DESJARDINS: For the "PBS# News Hour," I'm Lisa Desjardins.