Vote NO on Markwayne Mullin: following the law is not optional

Markwayne Mullin lacks the character and the experience to serve as secretary of homeland security. His past conduct in Congress -- including challenging a witness to fight in the chamber -- shows a grave lack of self control and respect for rules and norms. He is also saliently unqualified on the basis of experience, education, credentials and track record as well as lacking good character. Recall that he has repeated Noem’s statements that protesters in Minnesota are “highly paid professional agitators and anarchists"-- a blatant lie. The American people repudiate lying in public office; someone who condones lying about the victims of ICE's extrajudicial executions should have no place in that agency. Let me also remind you that Mullin voted AGAINST the release of the Epstein files because he said he wanted to "give them cover." This statement combined with other evidence of his unsuitable character should exclude him from any cabinet office. You know that the Epsteinfiles released so far reveal a trafficking, abuse, and pedophile network so extensive that it has been characterised as a crime against humanity. An elected servant of the people who does not stand on the side of justice and equality before the law should have no place at the head of a federal agency. IN short: Mullin lacks character, integrity, credential, and relevant experience: he should NOT be confirmed. Please vote NO. I ask you to block his confirmation. If his nomination goes forward, insist on all democratic conditions to rein in ICE until such time as it can be dissolved. Please use all the tools at your disposal to expose his record and hold him to account; block or delay his appointment. Remove Stephen Miller, too. A U.S. govt agency that violates the law, the constitution, court orders, international standards on treatment of detainees and rules on the use of force has no legitimacy. I will add a postscript that has only just been made public: Mullin has unacceptable conflicts of interest. These alone should exclude him. He is one of the most active stock-traders in the Senate — and violated the STOCK Act against insider trading as recently as last August. He currently holds stock in L3Harris, which has millions in contracts with ICE and FEMA.