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From “Spectacle” to Cash Grab: Padilla’s Removal from DHS Presser Sparks DC Firestorm, Fundraising Push
A dramatic and heated incident unfolded on Capitol Hill yesterday when California Senator Alex Padilla was forcibly removed from a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press conference by the Secret Service. The removal sparked an immediate firestorm in Washington D.C., with lawmakers rushing to condemn the treatment of Padilla or blast him for attempting to attract attention during the anti-ICE riots in Los Angeles.
The incident occurred at roughly 11:00 a.m. Pacific time, when DHS Secretary Kristi Noem began her prepared opening remarks. Unbeknownst to attendees, Senator Padilla was receiving a separate briefing nearby and discovered the press conference via loudspeakers. He stormed into the room without identifying himself, prompting Secret Service agents and FBI officers to intervene.
“It’s not acceptable for someone to barge in and disrupt an event like this,” Noem said following the incident, suggesting that Padilla may have intentionally sought to create a spectacle.
Following the removal, Senator Padilla met with Secretary Noem and discussed his concerns regarding ICE operations. Despite this meeting occurring smoothly, he immediately issued a statement sharing a different perspective, labeling the situation as an “attack on freedom of speech” and demanding accountability from the administration.
The backlash against both parties was swift and intense. Senate Majority Leader John Thune took a measured approach to the incident, stating that he had spoken with Padilla and expressed concern for his safety while also calling for all relevant information to be gathered about the incident.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, however, urged censure against Senator Padilla for his actions, asserting that “we’re not going to have branches fighting physically and having senators charging Cabinet secretaries.”
Source: www.foxnews.com
