Sen. Alex Padilla, a California Democrat, was forcibly removed from a Department of Homeland Security news conference in Los Angeles on Thursday.
In a video posted to social media by Fox News reporter Bill Melugin, Padilla can be seen attempting to walk toward the podium in the middle of a news conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Three men who appear to be federal agents, including one wearing an FBI vest, then grab him and push him backward.
At one point, Padilla is pushed up against a wall near reporters before being pushed out of the conference room.
“I am Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary because the fact of the matter is half a dozen criminals — that’s you’re rotating on your… ” Padilla said while scuffling with the men.
Law enforcement officers are seen in a hallway outside the conference room grabbing Padilla as he yells, “Hands off!”
The situation lasted about 20 seconds, and Noem, who was speaking at the podium, talked over the fracas.
“I don’t even know the senator,” Noem wrote on X following the incident. “He did not request a meeting with me or to speak with me, so when I leave here, I’ll have a conversation with him.”
The Congressional Hispanic Caucus said the actions were “unacceptable, full stop.”
“We demand a full investigation and consequences for every official involved in this assault against a sitting US senator,” the CHC wrote on X.
California Democrats quickly came to Padilla’s support on social media.
“Forcibly removing a United States Senator from a press conference is disgraceful,” Rep. Pete Aguilar said on X in response to the video. “This administration’s chaos and corruption is out of control.”
Rep. John Garamendi said that the behavior was “appalling” and that Padilla was at the news conference in an official capacity.
“@SenAlexPadilla was doing his job of conducting administrative oversight and expressing his right to free speech. Physically removing a U.S. Senator for asking a question continues to cross constitutional lines,” Garamendi posted.
Rep. Ro Khanna posted: “A United States Senator seeking clarification from a cabinet secretary should not be assaulted or treated like this.”
This story was produced as part of a partnership between NOTUS — a publication from the nonprofit, nonpartisan Allbritton Journalism Institute — and NEWSWELL, home of Times of San Diego, Santa Barbara News-Press and Stocktonia.