‘Truly Horrifying’: Ron Wyden Condemns Alex Padilla’s Removal From Noem Briefing As ‘Un-American’

During remarks on the Senate floor Thursday, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) spoke about the removal of Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) from a DHS briefing.

Transcript

00:00I was on my way to the floor to talk about clean energy policy this afternoon.

00:12But I have got to join my colleagues in addressing the shocking video out of Los Angeles.

00:19I've now looked at it.

00:20If you're following at home, our colleague, Senator Padilla, was carrying out his constitutional

00:25responsibilities to conduct oversight and defend the people he represents.

00:31And at that time, he was physically accosted and shoved out of a press conference, pushed

00:37to the ground and handcuffed at a press conference being held by Kristi Noem.

00:43It is a horrifying video, truly horrifying.

00:48And I'm of the view, Mr. President, why I especially wanted to come to the floor.

00:52It is not about a happening to a United States Senator.

00:56Here is what it's about.

00:59If they'll do this to a sitting United States Senator in front of a room full of media, imagine

01:07what is being done to powerless people in secret.

01:13In Portland, in my hometown, we've had firsthand experience with this kind of activity.

01:22It's unidentifiable agents with guns staring down peaceful protesters.

01:27In Portland, it was a wall of moms.

01:30My neighbors, we all said then, it's un-American.

01:35And I say it again this afternoon.

01:38What we have seen on our screens is un-American.

01:41It doesn't have the support of the American people for this kind of anti-democratic conduct.

01:46And I'll close simply by saying this, Mr. President.

01:51This has got to change.

01:55Peaceful Americans cannot have this kind of abuse rain down on them for the next three and

02:00a half years.

02:02It has to end now.

02:04I yield the floor.

02:05I yield the floor.