House Democrats Demand Homeland Security Secretary Noem Testify After Senator Padilla Handcuffing

House Democrats are demanding Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem testify before Congress following the forcible removal and handcuffing of Senator Alex Padilla during a press conference, despite video evidence showing Padilla clearly identifying himself. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation from Democratic lawmakers who accuse Noem and her security detail of mistreating an elected official and intimidating lawmakers and citizens alike. Noem and the Department of Homeland Security defended the actions by saying agents thought Padilla was an attacker, but Democrats have denounced this as false and unacceptable, calling for accountability and an apology. Democrats have also criticized the broader Trump administration’s aggressive stance in California, including the deployment of the National Guard and Marines in response to protests, which a federal judge ruled illegal. The episode has sparked calls for Noem’s resignation and heightened tensions around immigration enforcement and civil liberties in the state. Republicans, meanwhile, have focused on questioning local California officials rather than Noem’s conduct.