A firestorm erupted on Capitol Hill after federal agents on Thursday handcuffed and took Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) to the floor after he interrupted a Homeland Security press briefing.
Democrats have decried the incident as an unwarranted “manhandling,” while Republicans and the White House argue Padilla’s outburst was a political stunt that should serve as a sign “to turn the temperature down.”
The brief detention of a senator is the latest flash point between Democrats and law enforcement as President Donald Trump follows through on his campaign promise to mass deport illegal immigrants. Democrats opposed to Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrests have sided with protesters and even been arrested outside detention facilities, including Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), who was indicted for allegedly interfering with federal police.
As Trump and members of his administration have threatened to arrest more government officials, including Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), who don’t comply with White House policies and federal enforcement, Democrats view Padilla’s handcuffing as a chance to mobilize their opposition.
After votes on Thursday, a crowd of House Democrats marched to the offices of Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) and Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), demanding answers on whether they would issue a statement or launch an investigation into Padilla’s treatment.
“Both the speaker and Leader Thune should step up to the moment and preserve the institutions of Congress, which are a balance in democracy, which is what Sen. Padilla tried to express,” Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) told reporters outside Johnson’s office.
“So we are here to say that. We’re here to say that we’ll push back,” Espaillat said, noting members of the Equality and Black caucuses, as well as other Democrats, are standing behind Padilla.
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and House Oversight Democrats have called for an investigation into the situation, which the Homeland Security Department has characterized as “disrespectful political theater.”
Thune said he is looking to get “facts and find out exactly what happened,” and noted that “obviously, we will have a response.”
“We want to get the full scope of what happened and do what we would do on any incident like this involving a senator, and that is try to gather all the relevant information,” Thune told the Washington Examiner.
Parties split on opinions and response
Padilla interrupted Secretary Kristi Noem while she spoke during a press conference in California, and the department accused him of doing so “without identifying himself or having his Senate security pin on.” In a widely-circulated video, he is filmed saying, “I’m Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary.”
DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin shared a clip that she said showed Padilla “pushing and shoving law enforcement officers to get his way back to the podium.” She added that “no one knew who he was” and the Secret Service “thought he was an attacker.”
“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,” McLaughlin said. “Mr. Padilla was told repeatedly to back away and did not comply with officers’ repeated commands.”
Despite the incident, Noem met with Padilla afterward and spoke with him for 15 minutes.
“We probably disagree on 90% of the topics but we agreed to [exchange] phone numbers and we will continue to talk — that is the way it should be in this country,” Noem posted on X. “I wish he would’ve acted that way in the beginning rather than creating a scene.”
Democrats immediately launched into action. California Democrats and supporting House members held a large press conference on the steps, condemning the treatment of Padilla before marching to Johnson and Thune’s offices.
Thune, who returned later Thursday after a meeting at the White House, said he has spoken to Padilla and is trying to connect with Noem. He also spoke to Jennifer Hemingway, the Senate sergeant-at-arms.
When asked if there should be an investigation, Johnson deferred to the Senate but suggested Padilla should be reprimanded.
“This is a Senate-side issue, but I certainly hope that behavior is not repeated. … The Senate does its disciplinary actions over there, and we do ours over here,” the speaker said.
He added that he thinks Padilla’s behavior “merits immediate attention” from senators and that it should “at a minimum” result in a censure.
“I think there needs to be a message sent by the body as a whole, that that is not what we’re going to do. That’s not how we’re going to act. We’re not going to have branches fighting physically and having senators charging Cabinet secretaries,” the speaker said.
Democrats have pushed back on the Trump administration’s claims that he “lunged” at Noem, instead stating that he put his hands up and identified himself.
“This is what it looks like in Russia or China when you show dissent, and freedom in America will die if people don’t care,” Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) told the Washington Examiner.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) told reporters that Noem “lied on record” about Padilla not identifying himself.
“They are being dishonest with the American people,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “There must be a retraction. We must have an investigation of what just happened.”
Republicans accuse Democrats of orchestrating political theater and distractions
Democrats have tied their support of Padilla to the riots happening in Los Angeles, as ICE continues to sweep through several cities in an effort to remove illegal immigrants from the streets.
“The weaponization of immigration has taken us to a place in America where we’ve never been before, so divided, so split, so violent and aggressive,” Espaillat said.
“So we’re concerned about this … and we will not let this go,” Espaillat added.
But the White House has accused Padilla and Democrats of wanting this viral moment for political purposes to distract from the unrest in California.
“Padilla didn’t want answers; he wanted attention,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson told the Washington Examiner. “Padilla embarrassed himself and his constituents with this immature, theater-kid stunt — but it’s telling that Democrats are more riled up about Padilla than they are about the violent riots and assaults on law enforcement in LA.”
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt called Padilla’s behavior “childish.”
“He crashed the middle of an official press conference being held by a cabinet secretary, recklessly lunged toward the podium where [Noem] was speaking, and then refused to leave the room and follow the directions of law enforcement officers,” Leavitt said.
Senate Republicans are latching onto the political theater narrative. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) implied that Padilla was seeking a viral moment, telling reporters that he “got what he wanted. He’s on video.”
Some Republicans deflected on whether the response to Padilla’s interruption was acceptable, noting that his presence in his home state of California while Congress is in session showcases that he’s not serious about carrying out his tasks as a senator.
ALEX PADILLA FORCIBLY REMOVED FROM NOEM PRESS CONFERENCE IN CALIFORNIA
Sen. John Barrasso (R-WY), in reaction to the video, said, “He’s in California today, when we’re voting in the United States Senate on important legislation for the country. He’s not here. Is that right?”
“The fact that he’s in California and not in D.C. while the Senate’s voting means he’s not as concerned about doing his job here,” House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) echoed.
David Sivak, Lauren Green, Ramsey Touchberry, Naomi Lim, and Anna Giaritelli contributed to this report.
