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Sen. Markwayne Mullin says he regrets calling Alex Pretti a "deranged individual"
| USA | general | βœ“ Verified - cbsnews.com

Sen. Markwayne Mullin says he regrets calling Alex Pretti a "deranged individual"

#Markwayne Mullin #Alex Pretti #regret #deranged individual #Senator #apology #public statement #political dispute

πŸ“Œ Key Takeaways

  • Sen. Markwayne Mullin expressed regret for calling Alex Pretti a 'deranged individual'
  • The comment was made in a public context, indicating a political or personal dispute
  • Mullin's apology suggests an attempt to de-escalate or address backlash
  • The incident highlights tensions or conflicts involving public figures

πŸ“– Full Retelling

Sen. Markwayne Mullin, President Trump's pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security, said at a confirmation hearing Wednesday that he regretted calling Alex Pretti a "deranged individual" after he was shot and killed by Border Patrol agents in south Minneapolis.

🏷️ Themes

Political Apology, Public Conflict

πŸ“š Related People & Topics

Killing of Alex Pretti

Killing of Alex Pretti

2026 shooting by US Border Patrol agents

On January 24, 2026, Alex Jeffrey Pretti, a 37-year-old American intensive care nurse for the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, was shot multiple times and killed by two United States Customs and Border Protection officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The incident occurred amid widespread ...

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Markwayne Mullin

Markwayne Mullin

American politician (born 1977)

Markwayne Mullin (born July 26, 1977) is an American politician and businessman who has served since 2023 as the junior United States senator from Oklahoma. A member of the Republican Party, he was elected in a special election in 2022 to serve the remainder of Jim Inhofe's term. A member of the Che...

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Senate

Senate

Upper house of a bicameral legislature

A senate is a deliberative assembly, often the upper house or chamber of a bicameral legislature. The name comes from the ancient Roman Senate (Latin: Senatus), so-called as an assembly of the senior (Latin: senex meaning "the elder" or "old man") and therefore considered wiser and more experienced ...

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Entity Intersection Graph

Connections for Killing of Alex Pretti:

🌐 Killing of Renée Good 6 shared
🌐 Minneapolis shooting 5 shared
🌐 Minneapolis 4 shared
🌐 Presidency of Donald Trump 3 shared
🌐 Minnesota 3 shared
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Mentioned Entities

Killing of Alex Pretti

Killing of Alex Pretti

2026 shooting by US Border Patrol agents

Markwayne Mullin

Markwayne Mullin

American politician (born 1977)

Senate

Senate

Upper house of a bicameral legislature

Deep Analysis

Why It Matters

This news matters because it involves a U.S. senator publicly retracting inflammatory language about a private citizen, which reflects on political discourse norms and accountability. It affects Senator Mullin's constituents, political opponents, and observers concerned with civility in government. The apology may influence public perception of Mullin's temperament and could impact his political relationships and future electoral prospects.

Context & Background

  • Senator Markwayne Mullin is a Republican from Oklahoma who previously served in the U.S. House of Representatives before winning his Senate seat in 2022.
  • Alex Pretti appears to be a private citizen, though the specific context of Mullin's original comment isn't detailed in this brief article.
  • Political rhetoric has become increasingly polarized in recent years, with frequent controversies over inflammatory language used by elected officials against opponents, media figures, and private citizens.
  • Many politicians issue apologies or expressions of regret after making controversial statements, particularly when facing public backlash or media scrutiny.

What Happens Next

Senator Mullin may face follow-up questions from journalists about the incident and his apology. The story could generate local media coverage in Oklahoma and potentially national attention depending on the original context. If the original comment was part of a larger controversy, there may be continued discussion about the underlying issue that prompted Mullin's initial remark.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Alex Pretti and why did Senator Mullin call him 'deranged'?

The article doesn't provide specific details about Alex Pretti's identity or the context that led to Senator Mullin's original comment. Without additional information, we can only note that Pretti appears to be a private citizen who was the subject of Mullin's criticism.

What prompted Senator Mullin to issue this apology?

The article doesn't specify what motivated Mullin's expression of regret. Typically, such apologies come after public backlash, media criticism, internal party pressure, or personal reflection on the appropriateness of one's language.

How might this affect Senator Mullin politically?

The impact will depend on how constituents and political observers view both the original comment and the apology. Some may appreciate the accountability, while others might see it as weakness or remain focused on the initial inflammatory language.

Is this type of political apology common?

Yes, politicians frequently issue apologies or expressions of regret after making controversial statements, particularly when facing negative publicity or when their comments violate norms of civil discourse expected of elected officials.

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Original Source
Politics Sen. Markwayne Mullin says he regrets calling Alex Pretti a "deranged individual" at Senate hearing By Aki Nace Aki Nace Digital Producer, CBS Minnesota Aki Nace has been a web producer for CBS Minnesota since 2019. She covers breaking news and makes short-form documentary films. Read Full Bio Aki Nace March 18, 2026 / 12:42 PM CDT / CBS Minnesota Add CBS News on Google Sen. Markwayne Mullin, who is President Trump's pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security, said at a confirmation hearing Wednesday that he regretted calling Alex Pretti a "deranged individual" after he was shot and killed by Customs and Border Patrol agents in south Minneapolis. Mullin appeared before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee as he is poised to take over the department for Kristi Noem , who was sidelined by Mr. Trump in early March. Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan pressed Mullin over his comments about Pretti, who he called on Fox News "a deranged individual that came in to cause max damage." Noem called him a "domestic terrorist." Video from the scene and witness testimony contradicts those claims. Peters asked whether the American public should expect Mullin to make similarly "quick" comments as secretary. "Those words probably should have been retracted. I shouldn't have said that," Mullin said in response. When pressed further, Mullin said that he "responded immediately without the facts. That's my fault, that won't happen again as secretary." Mullin however stopped short of apologizing to Pretti's family, citing an ongoing investigation . Multiple sources have told CBS News that the probe does not involve any federal prosecutors from the Department of Justice's Civil Rights Division who specialize in excessive force cases. "I haven't seen the investigation," Mullin said. "We'll let the investigation go through, and if I'm proven wrong, then I will, absolutely." Later, when questioned by Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut about the shooting...
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