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Secret Service agents handcuff Senator Padilla at DHS press conference
Sitting senator arrest raises separation of powers concerns over federal property rules·June 12, 2025
California Senator Alex Padilla was forced to the ground, handcuffed, and removed by Secret Service and FBI agents on Jun. 12, 2025, after interrupting DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's press conference in Los Angeles. Padilla was released without charges after being identified.
Key facts
On Jun. 12, 2025, Secret Service and FBI agents forced Senator Alex Padilla to the ground, handcuffed him, and removed him from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem press conference in Los Angeles.
Padilla stated after the incident: I was not arrested. I was not detained. He was released without charges after being positively identified.
The incident occurred at the Los Angeles FBI headquarters, where Noem was discussing Trump administration immigration enforcement operations.
The FBI stated Padilla became disruptive while formal remarks were being delivered and was not wearing his Senate security pin.
Noem and Padilla met for 15 minutes after the incident, which Noem called a great conversation about DHS operations.
Republican Senator Susan Collins called the video very disturbing, and Senate Majority Leader John Thune spoke with Padilla and brought in the Senate Sergeant at Arms to investigate.
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