Incident Details
- Date of Incident
- April 5, 2025
- Location
- Washington, District of Columbia
- Targets
- Media
Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma speaks to reporters in the U.S. Capitol on March 13, 2025. Mullin posted a video on the social platform X on April 5 suggesting the use of violence could reduce “fake news.”
Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, citing a shooting at the U.S. Capitol 135 years ago, suggested in an April 5 video that the media would write fewer “false stories” if disputes were resolved using violence.
In the video, posted on the social platform X, Mullin stands on a stairway inside the Capitol building and recounts the story of reporter Charles Kincaid, who in 1890 shot and killed a former congressman, William Taulbee, amid a feud stemming from Kincaid’s reporting.
Kincaid was later found not guilty on the grounds of self-defense, according to the House of Representatives historical archives.
Mullin, gesturing in the video to the spot where he said the incident occurred, adds: “Now, there’s a lot we could say about reporters and the stories they write, but I bet they would write a lot less false stories — as President Trump says, ‘fake news’ — if we could still handle our differences that way.”
After The Oklahoman published a story about Mullin’s comments, the senator claimed in an April 6 post that he was joking and accused the outlet of being “out of touch with Oklahoma.”
“Don’t forget I also JOKED about bringing back caning to settle political disputes,” he said.
Mullin did not respond to a request for comment.
The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker catalogues press freedom violations in the United States. Email tips to [email protected].
