An associate of the firm, which has been accused of running a smear campaign against the actress Blake Lively, promised to suppress negative stories about Robert F. Kennedy Jr., records show.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin's Cabinet nomination advanced to the Senate floor Thursday despite opposition from Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Rand Paul (R-Ky.). Why it matters: The 8-7 committee vote puts Mullin an important step closer to being confirmed to succeed Kristi Noem as Homeland Security secretary when Noem steps down at the end of the month. - Paul voted "no, while Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) voted in favor. - Otherwise, the vote split along party lines. State of play: The vote followed a vitriolic hearing on Wednesday that opened with Paul challenging Mullin to "tell me to my face " why Paul deserved an assault that left him with broken ribs. - "You have never had the courage to look me in the…