Mullin will undergo a round of questioning in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday. Chairing that committee is Kentucky's Rand Paul.
Commenting on Paul's habit of parting ways with his party on major votes, Mullin told an Oklahoma reporter last month that, unlike senators who openly express their political philosophies, Rand Paul is a "freaking snake."
Referencing a 2017 attack that left Paul with broken ribs and along recovery, Mullin went on to say, "And I understand completely why his neighbor did what he did. And I told him that to his face."
Despite the potential for bad blood over the comments, Chris Stirewalt with The Hill says he doesn't see the possible rift upending the confirmation hearing.
"(Paul) might gig him on this, but I can't imagine that Paul would take a serious approach on this, nor can I imagine that Sen. Mullin wouldn't have a way to say, 'You know, I get fired up. You and I have disagreed very often about key things. I understand, but I respect your service to Kentucky and I respect your service to the country,' which would be the correct and politic thing to say," Stirewalt said.
Paul hasn't made any formal statements about Mullins' comments but reportedly told Fox News that he thinks the hearing will be "interesting."