The moment U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) turned his shoulder into agents attempting to escort him out of a news conference, he should have known there was going to be trouble.
That was the summation of Alex Campbell, security correspondent for CNN, who said the Democrat’s body language told U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s protective detail all they needed to know about his presence at her news conference on Thursday. Padilla was forcibly removed from the room and, a short time later, thrown to the ground and placed in handcuffs.
Outrage followed the startling footage of a sitting senator being cuffed like a criminal, but it’s unsurprising how the incident unfolded given Padilla’s behavior, Campbell told anchor Kaitlan Collins.
“It’s easy to think about this as one incident, but from a law enforcement perspective, we’re really looking at three separate incidents that happened within a short period of time,” he explained.
“First, you have the DHS secretary who is addressing the press. This was not a Q&A period, and she was interrupted… by someone who was speaking very loudly, and so her security detail confronts what we now know to be the senator. At that point, he is going to be escorted out. You can’t interrupt something like that, something that’s already in progress.”
But rather than follow the directions of Noem’s handlers, Padilla pushed forward, instigating the physical confrontation, Campbell stated.
“The second incident, in my view, happens the moment as officers are trying to lead him out, he then turns and walks back towards and kind of into those agents. At that point, from a security detail perspective, we’re taking this person out against their will.”
The moment U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) turned his shoulder into agents attempting to escort him out of a news conference, he should have known there was going to be trouble.
That was the summation of Alex Campbell, security correspondent for CNN, who said the Democrat’s body language told U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s protective detail all they needed to know about his presence at her news conference on Thursday. Padilla was forcibly removed from the room and, a short time later, thrown to the ground and placed in handcuffs.
Outrage followed the startling footage of a sitting senator being cuffed like a criminal, but it’s unsurprising how the incident unfolded given Padilla’s behavior, Campbell told anchor Kaitlan Collins.
“It’s easy to think about this as one incident, but from a law enforcement perspective, we’re really looking at three separate incidents that happened within a short period of time,” he explained.
“First, you have the DHS secretary who is addressing the press. This was not a Q&A period, and she was interrupted… by someone who was speaking very loudly, and so her security detail confronts what we now know to be the senator. At that point, he is going to be escorted out. You can’t interrupt something like that, something that’s already in progress.”
But rather than follow the directions of Noem’s handlers, Padilla pushed forward, instigating the physical confrontation, Campbell stated.
“The second incident, in my view, happens the moment as officers are trying to lead him out, he then turns and walks back towards and kind of into those agents. At that point, from a security detail perspective, we’re taking this person out against their will.”
Were it not for Israel’s attack on Iran, Padilla’s treatment would have splashed the front page of every news site around the nation on Friday. Reactions ranged from nonplussed to apoplectic as senators, parties, and the White House sought to control the narrative about an unprecedented situation.
“Anyone who looks at it – anyone – anyone who looks at this, it will turn your stomach. To look at this video and see what happened reeks—reeks—of totalitarianism. This is not what democracies do,” Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said from the floor of the Senate on Thursday.
Republican reactions were more muted, with Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) asking for time to learn the facts about what transpired.
“We want to get the full scope of what happened and do what we would do in any incident like this involving a senator and try to gather all the relevant information,” Thune said, adding he has already spoken with Padilla to learn his side of the story.
Members of the GOP, however, sided with CNN’s Campbell in blaming Padilla for the treatment he received.
“Don’t rush a cabinet member with no identification, and you won’t be detained. Easy,” said Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA) on social media.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), directing her post at Padilla, wrote, “Angelenos need someone to stand up for them as criminal illegal aliens emboldened by Biden threaten law-abiding citizens. Why not join President Trump’s effort to protect your constituents instead of protesting removals of criminals.”
“Padilla didn’t want answers; he wanted attention,” White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement. “Padilla embarrassed himself and his constituents with this immature, theater-kid stunt – but it’s telling that Democrats are more riled up about Padilla than they are about the violent riots and assaults on law enforcement in LA.”
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