'This Is A Horrifying Moment': Warren Reacts To Alex Padilla's Removal From Sec. Noem Presser

Forbes Breaking News

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.

Transcript

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.

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