In remarks on the Senate floor Thursday, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) reacted to the removal of Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) from a Sec. Kristi Noem press briefing.
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00:00This is a horrifying moment in our nation's history.
00:12Today, United States Senator Alex Padilla was violently removed from a public briefing
00:19for asking questions on behalf of the people he represents.
00:23People in California who deserve answers about the brutal crackdown on protesters.
00:31I've watched the video, as many of you have as well.
00:35Let me just describe what it shows.
00:38Officers pushed Senator Padilla backwards out of the room as he said the words, I am
00:44Senator Padilla, I have questions for the secretary.
00:48He was then shoved to the ground.
00:50When the Senator complied with the officers and went on his knees, he was forcibly pinned
00:57onto his stomach.
00:59He was ordered to put his hands behind his back.
01:02He can be heard on the video saying he is trying to comply with their orders.
01:09Officers then put handcuffs on the Senator while he was lying on the ground.
01:14His staff was then told to stop recording the handcuffing.
01:19He was put in handcuffs for asking a simple question.
01:24He was put in handcuffs for doing his job as a United States Senator.
01:30He was put in handcuffs for standing up for the Constitution of the United States.
01:37He was put in handcuffs for representing the people of California.
01:42Now, if you're not yet convinced that President Trump and his administration are trying to
01:49suppress free speech, then just watch the video.
01:53Watch the video.
01:55If you are not yet convinced that President Trump and his administration are trying to
02:01undermine the foundations of our democracy, watch the video.
02:06If you are not yet convinced that President Trump and his administration are hell-bent on
02:13punishing people with differing opinions than those of the President, then watch the video.
02:21And here's the really chilling part.
02:24Make no mistake.
02:26What happened to Senator Padilla today is happening every day all across this country.
02:34Every day, DHS agents are throwing people to the ground and violently handcuffing them
02:41while they are not resisting, detaining them for exercising their First Amendment rights
02:48of free speech.
02:50Every day, Donald Trump is making this nation look more and more like a fascist state.
02:59If this is how federal agents treat a United States Senator who peacefully asks questions
03:06of this administration, then we all have to ask, how far will they go?
03:12How violent will they get?
03:15I know my Republican colleagues can see what happened today was wrong.
03:21But will any Republican Senator speak up for our democracy?
03:27They know Senator Padilla's character.
03:30They know that Senator Padilla is a kind man, a man who is concerned for his children, a man
03:37who is concerned for his home, a man who has dedicated his life to public service, a man who is
03:45a patriot.
03:47Where are our Republican colleagues?
03:50Where is the Republican Senate?
03:53Where are you?
03:54Stand up and speak out.
03:57This is a continuation of what we've been seeing.
04:02Intimidate every other check on presidential power in this country.
04:06Fire the civil service.
04:08Get rid of those people.
04:10Threaten to imprison judges.
04:12Criminally charged House members who try to visit an ICE facility.
04:17Arrest senators who ask questions.
04:21This is not a drill.
04:23This is an assault on our democracy.
04:26I am calling on my Republican colleagues to join us in demanding a bipartisan investigation into this incident.
04:37What happened at this press conference was disgraceful.
04:42It was un-American.
04:44And every member of the United States Senate should condemn it and condemn it now.
04:50Mr. President, I yield the floor.
04:56Mr. President.
05:01I yield the floor.
05:05Mr. President.