Date: 2025-07-04 Page is: DBtxt003.php txt00028671
TRUMP
OUT OF CONTROL
Stephen Neukam: Democratic senator forcibly removed from DHS press conference
OUT OF CONTROL
Stephen Neukam: Democratic senator forcibly removed from DHS press conference
Original article: https://www.axios.com/2025/06/12/alex-padilla-homeland-security-kristi-noem
Peter Burgess COMMENTARY
I am disgusted.
I have been bothered by Trumpo;'s concept of 'law and order' for a very long time ... goimg back to the 1980'. But what Trump stands for nowis significantly worse than in the past.
At this point in time, Trump has a lot of power. But this could change very quicly. I hope it will change very quickly.
As an 'outsider', I may be able to be more 'objective ' than native born Americans ... and I am appalled at the way Trump has behaved mot only over the past several decades, but also in the past few months.
I don't know exactly why, but it is clear that the 'US political system' is not working as intended ehen it was established by the US Founding Fathers.250 years ago.
Every day, there are examples of Trump spporters dsoing thngs that are basically wrong.
The country ...that is the USA ... will fall apart unless good people push back against the stupid actions of the Trump crowd!
Peter Burgess
Democratic senator forcibly removed from DHS press conference
Written by Stephen Neukam
June 12, 2025
This is a breaking news story. More to come.
US Senator Alex Padilla, Democrat from California, is removed from the room after interrupting a news conference with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem at the Wilshire Federal Building in Los Angeles on June 12, 2025.
Sen. Alex Padilla is removed from the room after interrupting a news conference with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Photo: Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images
Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) was physically removed on Thursday from a Los Angeles press conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Why it matters: In a video posted to X by Fox News reporter Bill Melugin, Padilla was seen being grabbed and pushed out of the press conference while saying he had 'questions for the secretary.'
'I am Senator Alex Padilla,' Padilla said in the video. He was then grabbed by multiple men and shoved out of the room.
Further video showed Padilla being handcuffed and detained in the hallway outside the room.
Zoom in: Padilla told reporters on Thursday he 'began to ask a question' and 'was immediately forcibly removed from the room, forced to the ground, and I was handcuffed.'
Noem told Fox News that Padilla 'burst into the room and started launching towards the podium interrupting me and elevating his voice and was stopped, did not identify himself and was removed from the room.'
Noem said she and Padilla exchanged phone numbers during a short meeting after the incident.
Between the lines: In a post on X, the Department of Homeland Security's official account wrote that 'Padilla was told repeatedly to back away and did not comply with officers' repeated commands. Secret Service thought he was an attacker and officers acted appropriately.'
In the videos posted by reporters present, Padilla announced his name and title before he was pushed from the room.
Zoom out: Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) blasted the 'manhandling of a United States senator,' said he was 'sickened' by the incident and demanded 'immediate answers as to what the hell went on.'
'This is outrageous, dictatorial, and shameful. Trump and his shock troops are out of control,' California Gov. Gavin Newsom posted on Thursday. Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) called on Noem to resign, along with an investigation into what happened.
'Every senator who works in this Capitol should be offended by this and outraged by this,' Schiff told reporters outside of the Capitol.