Rep. Greene Calls for Charges Against Sen. Padilla After DHS Incident

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has called for Sen. Alex Padilla to be charged and prosecuted after he was forcibly removed and handcuffed during a Department of Homeland Security press conference in Los Angeles. Padilla, who verbally identified himself as a senator but was not wearing the congressional identification pin, attempted to ask Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem questions about immigration enforcement amid protests in California. Greene accused Padilla of being aggressive, resisting arrest, and fighting police officers, contrasting his behavior with that of Republican lawmakers. However, Padilla stated he was there peacefully to exercise his First Amendment rights, clarifying he was handcuffed but not arrested or detained. The Department of Homeland Security claimed agents thought Padilla was an attacker and acted appropriately, though video footage shows Padilla identifying himself as a senator. Democrats have condemned the removal as an authoritarian move intended to intimidate members of Congress, while local officials have criticized President Trump for escalating tensions in California.