Chapter Two: The Confirmation Hearings

U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs — Nomination hearing for Markwayne Mullin, Secretary of Homeland Security (PN858), March 18, 2026.

The Paul–Mullin exchange on political violence (Mullin: he does not believe in political violence; declines to apologize): C-SPAN clip 5196815:

• https://www.c-span.org/clip/senate-committee/sen-paul-accuses-dhs-secy-nominee-of-applauding-political-violence/5196815

U.S. Senate — Roll Call Vote No. 63 (119th Congress, 2nd Session), March 23, 2026: Markwayne Mullin confirmed Secretary of Homeland Security, 54–45

(52 Republicans plus Sens. Fetterman and Heinrich in favor; Sen. Rand Paul the lone Republican opposed).

• https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1192/vote_119_2_00063.htm

U.S. Senate — Roll Call Vote No. 33 (119th Congress, 1st Session), February 4, 2025: Pamela Bondi confirmed Attorney General, 54–46

(Sen. Fetterman the only Democrat in favor).

• https://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_votes/vote1191/vote_119_1_00033.htm

U.S. Senate — Kashyap "Kash" Patel confirmed Director of the FBI, 51–49, February 20, 2025

(Sens. Murkowski and Collins the two Republicans opposed; all Democrats opposed).

• https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/02/20/kash-patel-fbi-senate-confirmation-vote/

U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary — Nomination hearing for Kashyap Patel, Director of the FBI, January 30, 2025

(hearing record and Questions for the Record; GPO CHRG-119shrg61322).

• https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/committee-activity/hearings

The Trump Foundation–Bondi contribution.

The Donald J. Trump Foundation gave $25,000 to "And Justice for All," a political group supporting Bondi, on September 17, 2013 — days after reports that Bondi's office was weighing whether to investigate Trump University. A 501(c)(3) private foundation may not make political contributions; the Foundation paid a $2,500 IRS excise-tax penalty (reported 2016). Bondi maintained the contribution and her office's decision were unrelated. Washington Post (Sept. 1, 2016): CREW summary:

• https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/09/01/trump-pays-irs-a-penalty-for-his-foundation-violating-rules-with-gift-to-florida-attorney-general/
• https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/the-trump-foundation-pam-bondi-scandal/

Office of the New York State Attorney General — "Donald J. Trump Pays Court-Ordered $2 Million for Illegally Using Trump Foundation Funds" (November 7, 2019).

Manhattan Supreme Court (Justice Saliann Scarpulla).

• https://ag.ny.gov/press-release/2019/donald-j-trump-pays-court-ordered-2-million-illegally-using-trump-foundation

Kash Patel, Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy (2023).

Appendix naming persons Patel associated with the "Executive Branch Deep State"; critics described it as an enemies list, which Patel rejected. ISBN 978-1668051931.

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