Sen. Markwayne Mullin's secret war zone past

Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.), President Trump's nominee for Homeland Security secretary, has privately told colleagues he performed dangerous private security work in Middle East war zones before his 2012 congressional run, but has never publicly disclosed this background across five House campaigns or his 2022 Senate race. Three people who heard Mullin discuss the work say he indicated it was sensitive, clandestine government service in Afghanistan, though he emphasized he never wore a military uniform. No public record documents such security work, and his spokesman deflected questions by citing missionary trips and support for U.S. troops' transition home, while Mullin told Axios he cannot discuss the matter publicly. Democrats have accused him of stolen valor, and the claims are expected to surface Wednesday at his Senate confirmation hearing. Mullin has previously stated on Fox News that he performed "special assignments outside of DoD" alongside those with military contracts.