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4 months ago
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Alex Padilla, a Democratic California senator, was forcibly removed from a press conference held by Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, in Los Angeles on Thursday.
He was then handcuffed and temporarily detained.
In video taken of the incident that has since gone viral on social media, Padilla is being restrained and removed from the room by multiple men.
“I’m Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary,” Padilla is heard saying in the video as he struggles to get past the men removing him from the premises.
He can also be heard saying, “Hands off!”
In a statement from Padilla’s office, his team said: “Senator Padilla is currently in Los Angeles exercising his duty to perform congressional oversight of the federal government’s operations in Los Angeles and across California. He was in the federal building to receive a briefing with General Guillot and was listening to Secretary Noem’s press conference.
He tried to ask the secretary a question, and was forcibly removed by federal agents, forced to the ground and handcuffed. He is not currently detained, and we are working to get additional information.”
At the start of the conference, Noem addressed Padilla’s removal, saying: “When I leave here, I’ll have a conversation with him, but I think everyone would agree that wasn’t appropriate.
“When I leave here, I’ll find him and visit and find out really what his concerns were. I think everybody in America would agree that that wasn’t appropriate, that if you wanted to have a civil discussion, especially as a leader, a public official, that you would reach out and try to have a conversation.”
A Fox News reporter who reportedly witnessed Padilla’s removal says he was “forced to the ground and FBI police handcuffed him” before being “escorted down the hall” and “temporarily detained”.
Additional footage, taken by an NBC reporter, showed multiple officers holding Padilla down.
Various members of Congress immediately spoke out on social mediaabout how Padilla was treated.
Jimmy Gomez, a California representative, wrote on X : “This isn’t just shocking, it’s a threat to the rule of law and democratic accountability. Sen. Padilla is conducting oversight over the lawlessness of the Trump and the violations of the #RuleOfLaw. If this can happen to immigrant communities, it can happen to anyone.”
The California governor, Gavin Newsom, called Padilla “one of the most decent people I know,” before adding: “This is outrageous, dictatorial, and shameful. Trump and his shock troops are out of control. This must end now.”
Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, also wrote on X that “watching this video sickened my stomach, the manhandling of a United States Senator, Senator Padilla. We need immediate answers to what the hell went on”.
Tina Smith, a Minnesota senator, said: “This is disgusting. If this is how they treat Alex Padilla, a United States Senator, how do you think they’ll treat you?”
Norma Torres, a California representative, lambasted the treatment of Padilla in an impassioned video, writing: “Let’s call it what it is: a disgraceful abuse of power. Senator Alex Padilla was dragged and handcuffed out for daring to question Secretary Noem. This wasn’t a threat – it was dissent. They’re not keeping us safe – they’re silencing us.”
