Footage shows Padilla pushing law enforcement officers as he's removed from briefing

Footage shared by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin on Thursday showed California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla pushing law enforcement officers back as he's removed from a DHS press briefing.

The senator was forcibly removed during a briefing with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in California regarding the ongoing riots in Southern California, where he accused the secretary of exaggerating.

As he was pushed out of the room by two men, Padilla could be heard saying, "I'm Sen. Alex Padilla and I have questions for the secretary." Officers placed handcuffs on him after he went to the ground, video footage shows.

"Padilla pushing and shoving law enforcement officers to get his way back to the podium," McLaughlin posted to X with video of the incident. "Incredibly aggressive behavior from a sitting US Senator. No one knew who he was."

Padilla has claimed that he was peaceful and was only there to ask a question.

“I will say this: If this is how this administration responds to a senator with a question, I can only imagine what they’re doing to farm workers to cooks to day laborers out in the Los Angeles community and throughout California and throughout the country,” he said in a separate press briefing. “We will hold this administration accountable.”

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.