Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) teared up during a Tuesday speech on the Senate floor while recounting being “physically” and “aggressively forced out” of last week’s Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press conference in Los Angeles.
The Democratic lawmaker said his federal escorts “stood by silently” as he was wrestled to the ground for interrupting DHS Secretary Kristi Noem on Thursday.
“I was physically and aggressively forced out of the room, even as I repeatedly announced I was a United States senator and I had a question for the secretary. Even as the National Guardsman and the FBI agent who served as my escorts and brought me into that press briefing room stood silently, knowing full well who I was,” Padilla said on the floor.
He said agents forced him to the ground flat on his chest, while his thoughts raced.
“I pray you never have a moment like this,” Padilla said, with a choked voice, as he referenced Noem.