Dem Senator Who Crashed DHS Briefing Gets Emotional On Senate Floor

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) delivered an emotional address on the Senate floor Tuesday reflecting on his forcible removal from a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) news conference in Los Angeles on June 12.

The incident, where Padilla was shoved to the ground and handcuffed by federal agents after attempting to question DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, sparked widespread controversy.

In his remarks, Padilla choked up as he recounted the experience, describing being forced to the ground and handcuffed while trying to fulfill his oversight duties as a senator.

“I pray you never have a moment like this,” he told his colleagues, emphasizing the personal toll of the encounter.

Padilla, the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Immigration Subcommittee, framed the incident as part of broader concerns about the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics, particularly in Los Angeles, where protests have erupted over recent raids.

The California senator urged accountability, speculating that the treatment of a sitting senator raises alarming questions about the administration’s actions toward others.

“If this is how they respond to a senator with a question, you can only imagine what they’re doing to farmworkers, cooks, and day laborers,” Padilla said, echoing sentiments he expressed to reporters after the incident.

Democratic colleagues, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Adam Schiff, condemned the episode as an attack on democratic norms, with some calling for investigations. Republicans, however, largely criticized Padilla’s actions as disruptive, with House Speaker Mike Johnson suggesting a possible censure.