US Senator disgraced out of LA news conference

Democratic U.S. Senator Alex Padilla was forcefully removed and handcuffed during a press conference led by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles on Thursday, June 12, 2025.

The event, which was addressing immigration enforcement amid ongoing protests in the city, was disrupted when Padilla shouted out a question.

As security officials approached him, Padilla identified himself, stating, “I’m Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary!”

Video footage captured the tense moment, showing Padilla being restrained by several Secret Service agents before being pushed out of the room.

He was later subdued and arrested by FBI agents in uniform.

Despite the disturbance, Noem continued with the briefing, speaking to reporters and law enforcement officials as Padilla was being escorted out.

The incident quickly sparked outrage on Capitol Hill, where many Democrats denounced the arrest.

Some described it as “a sickening disgrace” and a “blatant attack on democratic values.”

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass condemned the event.

She called it “absolutely abhorrent and outrageous,” and criticized what she referred to as the Trump administration’s “violent attacks” on the city.

The criticism extended across party lines, with Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski calling the scene “horrible” and “shocking on every level,” adding, “It’s not the America I know.”

Later that day, Padilla released a video on social media explaining his actions. He said he was overwhelmed by the rhetoric at the briefing and felt compelled to speak up.

“I’m OK,” he assured viewers.

“But if they can do that to a U.S. Senator… what’s happening to others when no cameras are around?”

He emphasized that such treatment should never be normalized.

Secretary Noem later stated that she and Padilla spoke privately for 15 minutes after the confrontation.

While acknowledging that they disagreed on most issues, she expressed a willingness to continue dialogue.

“I wish he had approached it more constructively from the start,” she commented on social media.

The Trump administration labeled Padilla’s actions as “disrespectful political theatre.”

According to a statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Padilla allegedly lunged at Secretary Noem, which they claim justified the security response.

However, this assertion was firmly rejected by Padilla’s office and several Democratic lawmakers.

DHS further stated that Padilla failed to comply with multiple commands from officers and that Secret Service agents believed he posed a threat.

Padilla, on the other hand, clarified that he had already been inside the federal building for a scheduled meeting and had merely stopped by the press event seeking answers to unresolved immigration inquiries.

As the highest-ranking Democrat on the Senate’s Border Security and Immigration Subcommittee and the son of Mexican immigrants, Padilla said he attended the conference to gain insight on current immigration measures.

“I came to listen to her remarks and hopefully learn something new,” he explained.

He also urged Americans to continue engaging in peaceful protests against the Trump administration’s immigration policies, stressing the importance of civic action.

California Governor Gavin Newsom weighed in, urging Republican leaders in Congress to denounce Padilla’s treatment.

“If they can put a U.S. Senator in handcuffs for asking a question, imagine what they’ll do to everyday citizens,” he wrote on social media.

In contrast, the White House defended the response to Padilla, accusing him of creating a spectacle.

Abigail Jackson, a spokesperson, criticized the senator’s actions as self-serving. “Padilla didn’t want answers; he wanted attention,” she said.

“This was an immature display, more about showmanship than substance.

“It’s revealing that Democrats are more outraged about this than the violent riots and attacks on law enforcement happening in Los Angeles.”

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