Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) was handcuffed and forcibly removed after interrupting a press conference held by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles.
Video of the incident, posted by Fox News reporter Bill Melugin, shows multiple men restraining Padilla and forcing him out of the room, and other videos show them later pushing him to the floor to handcuff him.
Driving the news: “I’m Sen. Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary,” Padilla is heard saying as multiple people push him out of the room. He can be heard saying, “Hands off!” as he was thrown out two double doors.
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) accused Padilla of failing to identify himself and “lunging” toward Noem, prompting the security response from Secret Service agents.
- A statement from Padilla’s office said he was not detained after being ushered out but offered few other details about what transpired after he was handcuffed.
- Noem, per Melugin, met privately with Padilla after the altercation during her press briefing in the Southland.
- Padilla’s push to question Noem comes as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers have conducted widespread raids across Los Angeles, prompting riots in the city.
- President Trump has since called in both the National Guard and the Marines to protect ICE officers carrying out their duties. Noem’s press conference was originally designed to boast of the results of the operation.
What they said in the wake: “When I leave here I’ll have a conversation with him, but I think everyone would agree that wasn’t appropriate,” Noem said during the press conference. “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.”
- “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.”
- Padilla later spoke out about the incident, characterizing it as an attack on his First Amendment rights and efforts to represent his constituents.
- “I will say this: If this is how this administration responds to a senator with a question, I can only imagine what they’re doing to farm workers to cooks to day laborers out in the Los Angeles community and throughout California and throughout the country,” California’s senior senator said.
- “Senator Padilla chose disrespectful political theatre and interrupted a live press conference without identifying himself or having his Senate security pin on as he lunged toward Secretary Noem,” DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin wrote on social platform X. “Mr. Padilla was told repeatedly to back away and did not comply with officers’ repeated commands. Secret Service thought he was an attacker, and officers acted appropriately. Secretary Noem met with Senator Padilla after and held a 15-minute meeting.”
- “Watching this video sickened my stomach, the manhandling of a United States Senator, Senator Padilla,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) wrote on social media. “We need immediate answers to what the hell went on.”
