Calif. Senator Alex Padilla Tussles with Homeland Security Chief in Press Conference Melee
Senator Schiff calls for Governor Noem's resignation following the forcible removal of a fellow senator during a briefing.
Hey there! Sandra Smith and John Roberts are back with the scoop from 'America Reports' on the spat between Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., slammed Noem for her conduct, demanding her resignation after Padilla's removal from a press conference. Schiff, once tagged as "Shifty Schiff" by former President Donald Trump, has been a vocal critic of Noem along with Padilla.
Trump's policies and the ongoing California controversies, particularly regarding U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), have kept both senators in opposition.
DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin hit back at Schiff's demand for Noem's resignation, contending that Padilla opted for "disrespectful political theater" and disrupted the live press conference without identifying himself or wearing his Senate security pin.
SENATOR PADILLA DISRUPTS NOEM'S PRESS CONFERENCE, FORCIBLY REMOVED
During the L.A. anti-ICE protest press conference, Noem spoke before Padilla breached the meeting, yelling questions and disregarding orders to step back. Noem later confirmed an audience with Padilla.
FBI personnel were seen detaining Padilla during the incident, after he apparently charged at Noem.
Sen. Schiff, unnerved by the event, pointed fingers at the administration, stating, "The actions of the administration have been disgraceful, both in escalating tensions amid protests, and violently deploying the military without the governor's request."
Schiff criticized the administration's National Guard mobilization in L.A., noting how it marked the first time a U.S. president used his federal authority to send Guardsmen without the governor's request since the 1965 civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery.
Senator Raphael Warnock, while stopping short of demanding Noem's resignation, expressed concerns and called for further investigation.
The Democratic National Committee (DNC) joined the fray, condemning the Trump administration's actions and describing the incident as a "violent message to all of America." DNC Chair Ken Martin branded the episode as "an authoritarian playbook."
The White House dismissed the allegations, reprimanding Padilla for his disrespectful behavior, claiming he tried to grab Noem's attention and jeopardized his own reputation with his theatrical stunt.
Alexandra Koch and Bill Melugin of our website Digital, alongside Patrick Ward and Krista Garvin, contributed to this report.
Deirdre Heavey pens the politics section for our website Digital.
[1] Source: [URL for the original report]
- Senator Padilla's disruptive behavior at a press conference, wherein he was forcibly removed, has sparked controversy in the realm of politics and general news.
- Beyond politics, the incident also encroaches upon the broader category of crime and justice, as it involves a physical altercation between Padilla and Homeland Security Secretary Noem.
- In addition to the press conference incident, the ongoing debates about U.S. immigration policies and legislation are a part of the broader political landscape, with Senators like Padilla and Schiff voicing their opposition to the Trump administration's policies on this matter.
- This series of events, including the press conference altercation, the national guards' mobilization, and the ongoing California controversies, can undoubtedly be linked back to the war-and-conflicts and car-accidents categories, as they all involve some form of disruption, escalation, or violence.
