Alex Padilla

Floor Speech

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Ms. WARREN. Mr. President, this is a horrifying moment in our Nation's history. Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla was violently removed from a public briefing for asking questions on behalf of the people he represents, people in California who deserve answers about the brutal crackdown on protesters.

I have watched the video, as many of you have as well. Let me just describe what it shows. Officers pushed Senator Padilla backward, out of the room, as he said the words: I am Senator Padilla. I have questions for the Secretary.

He was then shoved to the ground. When the Senator complied with the officers and went on his knees, he was forcibly pinned onto his stomach. He was ordered to put his hands behind his back. He can be heard on the video saying he is trying to comply with their orders. Officers then put handcuffs on the Senator while he was lying on the ground. His staff was then told to stop recording the handcuffing.

He was put in handcuffs for asking a simple question. He was put in handcuffs for doing his job as a U.S. Senator. He was put in handcuffs for standing up for the Constitution of the United States. He was put in handcuffs for representing the people of California.

Now, if you are not yet convinced that President Trump and his administration are trying to suppress free speech, then just watch the video. Watch the video. If you are not yet convinced that President Trump and his administration are trying to undermine the foundations of our democracy, watch the video. If you are not yet convinced that President Trump and his administration are hellbent on punishing people with differing opinions than those of the President, then watch the video.

And here is the really chilling part. Make no mistake, what happened to Senator Padilla today is happening every day all across this country. Every day, DHS agents are throwing people to the ground and violently handcuffing them while they are not resisting, detaining them for exercising their First Amendment rights of free speech. Every day, Donald Trump is making this Nation look more and more like a fascist state.

If this is how Federal agents treat a U.S. Senator who peacefully asked questions of this administration, then we all have to ask: How far will they go? How violent will they get?

I know my Republican colleagues can see what happened today was wrong, but will any Republican Senator speak up for our democracy?

They know Senator Padilla's character. They know that Senator Padilla is a kind man, a man who is concerned for his children, a man who is concerned for his home, a man who has dedicated his life to public service, a man who is a patriot.

Where are our Republican colleagues? Where is the Republican Senate? Where are you? Stand up and speak out.

This is a continuation of what we have been seeing: Intimidate every other check on Presidential power in this country. Fire the civil service. Get rid of those people. Threaten to imprison judges. Criminally charge House Members who try to visit an ICE facility. Arrest Senators who ask questions.

This is not a drill. This is an assault on our democracy. I am calling on my Republican colleagues to join us in demanding a bipartisan investigation into this incident.

What happened at this press conference was disgraceful. It was un- American. And every Member of the U.S. Senate should condemn it and condemn it now.

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