US Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, was detained and handcuffed June 12 by the US Secret Service at Homeland Secretary Kristi Noem’s news conference in Los Angeles.
Padilla attempted to interrupt a press conference with Department of Homeland Security officials, including Noem, who was discussing local immigration enforcement actions. Video from the incident show several individuals forcibly remove Padilla from the conference as he said, “I am Sen. Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary.”
He was removed from the room by US Secret Service accompanying Noem and they were assisted by FBI police officers for the federal building, an FBI spokesperson said.
A spokesperson for Padilla’s office said he was detained, handcuffed, and thrown to the ground outside of the room where the press conference was being held.
Padilla was in Los Angeles on official business and was in the federal building to receive a briefing with Air Force Gen. Gregory Guillot, according to law enforcement sources. He was not scheduled to attend 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,” his office said in a statement. “He is not currently detained, and we are working to get additional information.”
After her news conference, Noem said she regrets how the situation with Padilla was handled.
“I wish that he would have reached out and identified himself and let us know who he was and that he wanted to talk,” Noem told reporters while accompanied by FBI and other law enforcement officials. “His approach, you know, was something that I don’t think was appropriate at all.”
—Rachel Uranga, Christopher Buchanan and Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times (TNS)
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