Kristi Noem addresses 'completely inappropriate' scene caused by Dem senator
By: Madeline Coggins (Fox News)
Is this appropriate behavior for a Senator? Should the Senate Ethics Committee investigate the incident? Should Alex Padilla be censured?
Oh, no. Padilla is royalty who deserve special consideration. Padilla wants to obtain public attention and support from No Kings protesters so he can become a King Maker.
Hey, let's pick the area where Trump has the most support and act stupid. What could possibly go wrong? Somebody cue Pam Bondi.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
While giving a briefing on federal efforts to restore peace in Los Angeles, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's press conference Thursday became engulfed in a display some critics called "political theater" when a California Democratic lawmaker interrupted Noem's remarks.
After loudly speaking over Noem and approaching the podium where she was standing, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., was escorted out of the room. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said Padilla did not identify himself as a senator and was not wearing his Senate security pin.
Although the two later met in private where they spoke for about 15 minutes, Padilla later spoke to the media, claiming he was "forced to the ground."
Noem criticized Padilla's "absolutely ridiculous" statement, noting his behavior was "completely inappropriate" and "not becoming" of a public official.
"This man burst into a room, started advancing toward the podium, interrupting an opening statement, elevating his voice, [and] shouting questions. People tried to stop him from interrupting the press conference. He refused and continued to lunge towards the podium," Noem said Thursday on "The Story." "That is when he was removed from the room. The way that he acted was completely inappropriate."
After Padilla was removed from the room, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) personnel began handcuffing the senator in the hallway, at which point he identified himself, and they ceased action, Noem told Fox News anchor Martha MacCallum shortly after the incident.
A DHS spokesperson also said Padilla was told "repeatedly" to back away, and "did not comply" with officers' commands.
"[Secret Service] thought he was an attacker and officers acted appropriately," the spokesperson said.
Although Noem says the pair were OK after their private conversation, she observed Padilla may have "wanted the scene", particularly in light of his comments to the media following the incident.
"If this is how this administration responds to a senator with a question, if this is how the Department of Homeland Security responds to a senator with a question, you can only imagine what they're doing to farm workers, to cooks, to day laborers out in the Los Angeles community and throughout California," Padilla told reporters Thursday. "We will hold this administration accountable."
After criticizing Padilla's comments, Noem told "The Story" she was "so sick of the politics" and urged opponents to "get over themselves and have the backs of law enforcement."
"I think the American people are sick of this kind of action. I think American people are tired of this. They just want the truth, and they just want to know what's happening, and that's what we were trying to provide," she said.
Fox News Digital's Alexandra Koch and Fox News' Bill Melugin contributed to this story.
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Democrats can't be oxymoronic since their ox died. Now they're just moronic.
It's a real tail twister trying to point the party's dead ox in a sane direction.
It was such a ham handed attempt to get attention.
It was just a coincidence. Obviously not staged agitation for the benefit of the press.
There's no way to prove Alex Padilla deliberately planned to disrupt a closed press conference. He just happened to be in the right place at the right time. Did you notice all the cameras that were pointed at Padilla? I suppose it's too much of a stretch to speculate that the press was expecting Padilla's disruption.
He did get the attention. Just not the way he desired.
No, he was not “escorted.” He was roughly manhandled, dragged out of the room, and handcuffed.
That is a lie. He announced himself nice and loud, saying, “I’m Senator Alex Padilla, I have questions for the secretary.” I’ve seen the video.
It may be that Padilla was overly loud in wanting to ask Noem a question. While that may be a touch rude, it is not a crime. Noem claims Padilla "lunged" at her. That is a complete lie.
After Padilla identified himself as a senator he was rushed out of the room , around a corner into a hallway, and thrown to the ground and handcuffed. After he said he was a senator.
There is no real defense for this but being Trump MAGA means never having to say you're sorry.
Padilla did not comply and peacefully leave the room. Padilla was attempting to force his way into the room and then force his way back into the room after being ejected. It's true that Noem is granting Padilla more consideration than he earned.
Is that all that's required to enter an event that isn't open to the public? "I'm Senator So-and-so" is supposed to a be super secret gate pass that entitles an individual to some sort of special treatment?
Therefore what? Was that a lawful order? How do you know?
People have this ridiculous notion that we are all required to comply with the orders of authority figures in every situation. That’s just not true.
What was not peaceful about it? He didn’t do anything violent. Speaking is still considered peaceful, even if you’re interrupting someone.
It was a news conference. A senator isn’t allowed at a news conference?? And you are ignoring the fact that DHS lied about him identifying himself. Afterward, still at the podium, Noem acknowledged that it was Senator Padilla. She claimed she didn’t know who he was, but she did somehow get the information, so he clearly did identify himself. I will concede that he probably should have opened with that, but he got to it pretty quickly.
Ok, I guess “special treatment” includes not being pinned on the floor and handcuffed.
That is the ONLY thing he did right. But identifying himself does not exempt him from the consequences of acting an ass. The reaction by FBI and DHS is well deserved.
I am sure that is what every authoritarians' head of violent repression says.
The American people are sick of masked, uniformed people coming unannounced into their communities and sweeping up people who have been members of the community for years.
She lies almost as much as Donald and would not be able to recognize the truth if it were a puppy in a gravel pit.
In dipshit's defense, he did identify himself. Still doesn't make him right or even remotely professional.
That's what happens when you do something stupid and get arrested.
It's hilarious that these assclowns think that just by identifying themselves it absolves them of all stupidity and all should be forgotten.