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Mullin, however, did not back down. He seized his opening statement to strike back, framing Paul’s attacks as a betrayal of Republican unity.
“I have to address the remarks the chairman made, calling me a liar. Sir, I think everybody in this room knows that I’m very blunt and direct to the point, and if I have something to say, I’ll say it directly to your face. If you recall back in my house days we actually did have this conversation….I simply addressed that. I said I could understand, because of the behavior you were having, that I can understand why your neighbor did what he did. As far as my terms ‘snake in the grass,’ sir, I work around this room to try to fix problems. I’ve worked with many people in this room. Seems like you fight Republicans more than you work with us,” Mullin said.
He also denied ever endorsing violence, a claim Paul implied in his questioning.
“And as far as me saying that I invoke violence – 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’ll come straight to you, I’ll say it publicly and I’ll say it privately, but I’ll never say it behind your back. So for you to say I’m a liar, sir, that’s not accurate.”
Mullin struck a slightly conciliatory tone when discussing the broader dispute, signaling a willingness to move beyond personal and political friction.
“The truth is, I have a job to do, and I don’t like to fail at anything at all, so I can set it aside. If you’re willing to set it aside, let me earn your respect,” Mullin said, adding that he has “had to really pray about my attitude.”
Paul’s response, however, was relentless. He accused Mullin of refusing to take responsibility for past behavior, framing it as a failure of accountability.
“You’re unrepentant. The only thing you quibble about is whether I met you somehow when you’re in the house. I don’t think we ever met when you were in the house. And this idea that the only thing you’re upset about is not that you were for violence. What you’re upset about is that I called you a liar because you said it to my face. It’s really more about this machismo that you have,” Paul said.
He emphasized Mullin’s lack of remorse.
“You offer no apology today and no regrets. Haven’t, I don’t hear the word apologize. Haven’t heard the word regret. Haven’t heard I misspoke,” Paul said.
Mullin remained firm, clarifying his position and rejecting Paul’s characterization.
“I did not say I supported it. I said I understood it. There’s a difference,” Mullin said.
As the hearing continued, Paul highlighted what he described as a broader pattern of confrontational behavior, even presenting footage of Mullin clashing with Teamsters President Sean O’Brien.
Mullin dismissed the effort as political theater.
“I get it. It’s about character assassination,” Mullin said. “That’s the way this game is played. I understand it, and you are making this about you, which is fine.”
