[For Senator Padilla:] Thank you for standing up for our state and demonstrating courage in the face of detention, then speaking out about it. I urge you to use your power to demand Kristi Noem’s resignation, investigate the officers involved, vote NO on the budget bill, and stop all Senate business until your Republican colleagues agree to restore justice.

[For Senator Schiff:] Thank you for speaking out about Senator Padilla’s detention. Now it’s time to use all available procedural tools to stop this from ever happening again. I urge you to use your power to demand Kristi Noem’s resignation, investigate the officers involved, and stop all Senate business until your Republican colleagues agree to restore justice.

[For your Representative:] I am outraged about Senator Padilla’s detention incident. It’s time to use all available procedural tools to stop this from ever happening again. I urge you to use your power to demand Kristi Noem’s resignation, investigate the officers involved, and stop all House business until your Republican colleagues agree to restore justice.

Background

On June 12th as Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem held a news conference at the Los Angeles FBI headquarters, Senator Alex Padilla interjected some questions for the secretary. Senator Padilla said, “Secretary, I want to know why you insist on exaggerating and embellishing …”. Almost immediately federal agents started to shove the senator toward an exit using force. Eight seconds after interrupting Noem, Senator Padilla identified himself.

As he was being shoved out of the room, he said, “I’m Senator Alex Padilla, I have questions for the secretary. Because the fact of the matter is, a half a dozen violent criminals that you’re rotating on your …”. In Padilla’s staff’s video you can see “U.S. Senate” with an image of the Senate’s “Eagle and Shield” on his navy blue shirt.

Trump administration officials and Republicans insist Padilla barged into the room, did not identify himself and did not comply with law enforcement. There is a video of the incident taken by Senator Padilla’s staff showing that he did not barge into the room, identified himself and complied with the officers.

Soon after the incident in which Padilla was pushed onto the floor and handcuffed, Senator Adam Schiff demanded that Noem resign.

Using physical force against a United States senator is part of the attempts by the current administration to belittle and intimidate members of Congress. Similar incidents have occurred with other leaders. The head of the Service Employees International Union of California, David Huerta was arrested on Friday while rallying demonstrators. Last month during a visit to an immigration detention center in Newark, Rep. LaMonica McIver was charged with assault.

We must demand serious action from our Members of Congress so they stand up for Senator Padilla and for themselves. We ask that they stop all Senate business, demanding the resignation of Kristi Noem and the investigation of the officers who detained Padilla.

References

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/06/12/alex-pandilla-noem-press-conference-removed/

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