Schiff: Seeing Padilla 'mistreated' amid LA protests 'just atrocious'
Source: The Hill
06/15/25 5:11 PM ET
Sen. Adam Schiff on Sunday called the handcuffing of fellow California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla atrocious after Padilla was forcibly removed for interrupting Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noems press conference in Los Angeles.
To see him mistreated that way and tackled to the ground and shackled that way and in the midst of what were seeing more broadly in Los Angeles is just atrocious, Schiff told NBCs Kristen Welker on Meet The Press. And I think all of us that work with him reacted with that kind of revulsion.
Schiff defended Padilla, saying he had every right to attend Noems press conference and ask a question. He also pointed out that Padilla had been escorted into the room and had identified himself before the incident.
He tried to ask the secretary a question, a secretary who clearly doesnt want to answer questions about the lawless acts of the Department of Homeland Security that we are seeing in Los Angeles, Schiff said. So he had every right to do so. Thats part of his oversight responsibilities. For those of us that know Alex, and you would be hard pressed to find a more beloved senator on either side of the aisle, respected by members on both sides of the aisle, you know, for his intellect, for his demeanor. This is not some rabble-rouser, Schiff added.
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5351767-adam-schiff-criticizes-adam-padilla-handcuffing/