Skip to player
Skip to main content
Skip to footer
Search
Connect
Watch fullscreen
Like
Comments
Bookmark
Share
Add to Playlist
Report
JUST IN: Alex Padilla Recounts His Removal From DHS Sec. Noem's Press Briefing By Law Enforcement
Forbes Breaking News
Follow
6/15/2025
During an interview with CNN on Sunday, Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) discussed his physical removal from a DHS press briefing by law enforcement after confronting DHS Secretary Kristi Noem.
Category
🗞
News
Transcript
Display full video transcript
00:00
Sure, after being in the room for several minutes, by the way, you know, you can't script this in Hollywood.
00:08
I was in the federal building for a scheduled briefing with representatives of Northern Command
00:14
when I learned that Secretary of Homeland Security, a couple doors down, was having the press conference.
00:19
My briefing was delayed because some of the folks in that brief were participating in the press conference.
00:24
So I asked the folks who were escorting me in the building, can we go listen in?
00:28
In the hopes of some information, in the hopes of some insight as to their justification for the militarization,
00:37
the escalation of what was happening in Los Angeles.
00:40
And surprise, surprise, no substance came from that press conference, just political attacks.
00:46
And when I heard the secretary, not for the first time in that press conference,
00:50
talk about the needing to liberate the people of Los Angeles from their duly elected mayor and governor,
00:56
it was at that moment that I chose to try to ask a question.
01:02
You know, if all the Trump administration was doing was truly focusing on dangerous,
01:07
violent criminals, as they suggest, there would be no debate.
01:10
There would be no disagreement.
01:12
But we've seen story after story after story of hardworking women and men,
01:16
maybe undocumented, but otherwise law-abiding, good people being subject to the terror
01:24
that this immigration enforcement operations is subjecting the people to,
01:29
I needed to speak up.
01:31
I needed to try to get the information from the secretary
01:34
that they've refused to provide in hearing after hearing.
01:37
So is that what you asked?
01:38
Yes, the, the, uh, well, I was beginning to ask.
01:41
I couldn't get a couple of words out before.
01:44
Obviously you saw agents respond, hands on me pretty much immediately.
01:47
And look, everybody's seen the video.
01:49
You know what happened after that.
01:50
Well, uh, I'm sure you've seen the DHS folks,
01:53
woman Tricia McLaughlin posted that you, quote,
01:56
tried to manufacture a viral moment.
01:59
Nothing could be further from the truth.
02:01
Uh, again, uh, what, what are the odds?
02:04
I was in a, uh, federal building, a couple of doors down,
02:08
awaiting a briefing from Northern command,
02:10
because I still believe the federalization of the National Guard troops
02:14
and, and deployment in Los Angeles was not only unlawful, unjustified,
02:18
but counterproductive.
02:19
It's what's escalated the tensions in Los Angeles.
02:22
Uh, the sending in the Marines as a result,
02:25
like things have been quieting down day after day.
02:28
So why do you escalate by sending in the Marines?
02:30
And an opportunity to ask a question,
02:33
maybe get answers that DHS, including the secretary,
02:36
will not provide in committee hearings in the Senate,
02:39
will not respond to the letters that we've sent inquiring.
02:43
It was an opportunity to ask, okay, and do my job as a senator, right?
02:47
Do my job as a senator in questioning a cabinet secretary.
02:50
Uh, our CNN security correspondent, Josh Campbell, who was an FBI agent,
02:54
he said, just from a law enforcement perspective,
02:57
Secretary Noem's security acted appropriately at the beginning,
03:03
not when you were in the hallway being handcuffed,
03:05
but at the beginning, uh, trying to keep you away
03:09
or get you out of the room because you interrupted her press conference.
03:12
What do you think of that?
03:15
If that's how they treat a senator trying to ask a question,
03:22
here's one of my big takeaways,
03:23
then imagine not what they can do,
03:26
what they are doing to so many people without titles.
03:29
But they might not have known.
03:30
I know you said pretty early, I'm a senator, but...
03:33
I was escorted into that room by a National Guardsman and an FBI agent.
03:38
Look, the whole Los Angeles press court,
03:40
this is Los Angeles, this is my hometown.
03:41
They know who I was.
03:43
And what does it say about the secretary
03:45
to not know who the senator from California is,
03:49
the ranking member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration?
03:52
You were escorted into the room by law enforcement.
03:55
Absolutely.
03:56
I was being escorted during my entire time in that building.
04:01
From showing up in the building,
04:02
going through security screening,
04:04
escorted by an FBI agent, a National Guards member
04:06
to the conference room where I was awaiting a briefing.
04:09
They're the ones I requested.
04:10
Well, if we're waiting, can we go listen in at the press conference?
04:13
They escorted me over to the press conference.
04:15
They opened the door for me and they stood next to me
04:17
while I was listening for the entire time.
04:19
And then, of course, once I was forced to be removed and handcuffed.
04:23
Several of your fellow Democrats
04:25
say that Secretary Noem should resign.
04:28
Is that where you are?
04:29
Look, that's maybe not my focus right now,
04:33
but I do think there's some serious questions.
04:35
How does the cabinet secretary not know
04:37
the senator from California
04:39
when she steps foot into Los Angeles?
04:42
She came through the center for confirmation at one point.
04:45
And certainly, how does the secretary of Homeland Security
04:47
not know how to de-escalate a situation?
04:50
It's because she can't or because they don't want to.
04:53
And it sets the tone.
04:55
Donald Trump and Secretary Noem have set the tone
04:58
for the Department of Homeland Security
04:59
and the entire administration
05:01
in terms of escalation and extreme enforcement actions.
05:06
One last question.
05:07
Your Democratic colleague, Senator Brian Schatz,
05:10
he was defending your actions on the Senate floor.
05:12
It was a pretty emotional speech.
05:14
He said the way you were treated
05:15
is something we see in dictatorships,
05:18
that in a democracy,
05:19
you were allowed to be disrespectful and disruptive.
05:21
I know you said that that was kind of an organic moment,
05:25
but do you think more Democrats should be,
05:27
in his words, disrespectful and disruptive?
05:30
I wasn't trying to be disrespectful or disruptive,
05:32
and I don't think I was.
05:33
I was simply asking a question,
05:36
just as the members of the press corps ask questions,
05:39
members of the Congress, members of the Senate
05:40
ask questions to do our job
05:42
to hold the administration accountable.
Recommended
2:55
|
Up next
Alex Padilla Says He Has 'Serious Questions' For DHS Sec. Noem After Removal From Press Briefing
Forbes Breaking News
6/15/2025
25:58
Democrats And Republicans React To Alex Padilla Being Forcibly Removed From Noem's Briefing
Forbes Breaking News
6/13/2025
5:30
Alex Padilla Speaks Out After Being Removed From Sec. Kristi Noem's Press Briefing
Forbes Breaking News
6/12/2025
5:46
Senator Physically Ejected at DHS Secretary Noem's Press Conference | TMZ Live
TMZ
6/12/2025
6:37
Dems Attempt To Adjourn The House After Alex Padilla Was 'Illegally Attacked' At DHS Briefing
Forbes Breaking News
6/12/2025
6:03
Adam Schiff Responds To Padilla Being Forcibly Removed From DHS Sec. Kristi Noem’s Briefing
Forbes Breaking News
6/12/2025
24:35
‘Americans Did Not Ask For This’: Schiff Condemns Alex Padilla’s Forced Removal From A DHS Briefing
Forbes Breaking News
6/13/2025
5:32
Alex Padilla Recounts What He Was Thinking As He Was Handcuffed And Escorted Out Of Noem's Briefing
Forbes Breaking News
6/18/2025
0:58
Sen. Alex Padilla Forcibly Removed From DHS Press Conference in Los Angeles [VERTICAL]
TIME
6/12/2025
16:49
Cory Booker Condemns The Removal Of Alex Padilla From Secretary Kristi Noem’s DHS Press Briefing
Forbes Breaking News
6/16/2025
5:03
‘I Have No Words’: Andy Kim Decries ‘Shamefulness’ Of Padilla’s Removal From Noem’s DHS Briefing
Forbes Breaking News
6/13/2025
10:06
'This Is What Dictatorships Look Like': Chris Van Hollen Decries The Removal Of Padilla From DHS Hearing
Forbes Breaking News
6/13/2025
1:48
Chuck Schumer Calls For Investigation Into The Forced Removal Of Padilla From A DHS Briefing
Forbes Breaking News
6/12/2025
0:47
California Sen. Alex Padilla Forced to the Ground and Handcuffed for Asking Question at Homeland Security Event
People
6/12/2025
11:35
‘When Does It Stop?’: Cory Booker Decries Alex Padilla’s Removal From Noem’s DHS Press Briefing
Forbes Breaking News
6/12/2025
4:26
'Inconceivable That Kristi Noem Did Not Know Who Senator Alex Padilla Is': Democratic Lawmaker
Forbes Breaking News
6/16/2025
3:48
Alex Padilla Addresses Forcible Removal From Kristi Noem's Press Briefing
Forbes Breaking News
6/13/2025
5:10
'An Attack To Shut Him Up': Kaine Blasts Trump Administration After Padilla Forcibly Removed From Briefing
Forbes Breaking News
6/13/2025
11:19
Alex Padilla Speaks To CNN After Being Forcibly Removed From Noem's Press Briefing
Forbes Breaking News
6/13/2025
3:46
AOC Demands 'Full Investigation' Of Alex Padilla Being Forcibly Removed From DHS Briefing
Forbes Breaking News
6/13/2025
15:52
Chris Murphy Sends Clear Warning About Alex Padilla’s Forced Removal From A DHS Briefing
Forbes Breaking News
6/16/2025
0:46
Alex Padilla Forcibly Removed From DHS Sec. Kristi Noem Press Conference
Forbes Breaking News
6/12/2025
3:55
‘An Assault On The Rule Of Law’: Chris Murphy Responds To Padilla Being Removed From Noem’s DHS Briefing
Forbes Breaking News
6/12/2025
2:08
‘Truly Horrifying’: Ron Wyden Condemns Alex Padilla’s Removal From Noem Briefing As ‘Un-American’
Forbes Breaking News
6/12/2025
4:47
Hakeem Jeffries Calls 'Manhandling Of Senator Alex Padilla' A 'Complete And Total Disgrace'
Forbes Breaking News
6/13/2025