🆘 A Sitting Senator Silenced — A Constitutional Alarm
When executive force is used against Congress, democracy itself is in danger.
Emergent Edition | Engage for Democracy | June 12, 2025
✏️ Editor's Note
Senator Padilla's forcible detention and handcuffing represents a direct breach of the U.S. Constitution and fundamental democratic norms. Rather than wait, Engage for Democracy felt it urgent to provide this analysis with concrete actions citizens can take to contact every member of Congress—the entire House and Senate—to voice our will as the people.
Violating the Constitution is never acceptable. Irrespective of policy differences, every Senator and Representative must stand together to repudiate this unconstitutional action by the Executive Branch against a coequal branch of government.
Congress and the American people must not remain silent.
The escalating use of military force against civilians and elected officials this week has heightened concerns among Americans from every corner of our nation. For those participating in Saturday's "No Kings Day" demonstrations: stand for the U.S. Constitution, stand for the Rule of Law, stand for the democracy that so many of our family members and neighbors sacrificed to protect—and do so peacefully, as our Constitution guarantees and our democracy requires.
📍 What Happened
U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) was forcibly detained and handcuffed after attempting to question DHS Secretary Kristi Noem at a press conference in Los Angeles.[¹][²][³][⁴][⁵] The incident, caught on video and widely reported, shows Padilla being tackled by plainclothes agents—later identified as FBI and DHS officers—after identifying himself and attempting to speak.[⁴][⁵] Padilla had been attending a military briefing when he learned of Noem's concurrent press event and joined to raise concerns about ICE raids in California.[⁴]
Before being dragged away, Senator Padilla managed to declare:
"I am Sen. Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary." [⁴][⁵]
He was then pushed to the ground, handcuffed, and removed by force. DHS later claimed agents mistook him for an attacker and that he failed to identify himself—statements widely contradicted by the video and by Padilla himself.[⁴][⁵] The secretary later met with Padilla for 15 minutes behind closed doors, though the substance of that conversation remains unclear.[²]
⚠️ The Administration and Congressional Leadership Fail Constitutional Duties
Rather than defending Congress as a coequal branch of government, both the White House and House Speaker Mike Johnson distorted the facts and abandoned constitutional responsibilities.
The White House Response: "Theater-Kid Stunt"
The White House dismissed Padilla’s actions as "an immature, theater-kid stunt," claiming "Padilla didn’t want answers; he wanted attention." [⁹] White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson asserted—contrary to video evidence—that Padilla "stormed a press conference, without wearing his Senate pin or previously identifying himself to security, yelled, and lunged toward Secretary Noem." [⁹]
Speaker Johnson’s Response: Distortion of Facts and Constitutional Responsibility
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) escalated the distortion further:
"I think that behavior at a minimum rises to the level of a censure… You don’t charge a sitting Cabinet secretary… It is beneath a U.S. senator." [⁵]
In fact, video footage confirms there was no “charge,” no aggression, and no threat. Padilla was calm, identifiable, and unarmed. Johnson’s characterization directly contradicts the record. [⁶]
When confronted on the House floor, Rep. Dan Goldman shouted: "Why don’t you stand up for Congress?" Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus responded: "That’s a lie!" [⁷] Johnson appeared to begin calling Padilla a “thug” before stopping himself. [⁸]
These responses do not merely misrepresent facts. They normalize the use of executive force against Congress—and abandon the constitutional balance designed to protect our democracy.
📜 What the Constitution Says
Article I, Section 6 of the U.S. Constitution grants members of Congress immunity from arrest “in all cases, except treason, felony and breach of the peace,” while in session or traveling to/from session.
The First Amendment protects the right to “petition the Government for a redress of grievances,” which includes a senator's right to speak at a public event.
The doctrine of Separation of Powers prohibits the executive branch from interfering with the lawful duties of Congress.
Speaker Johnson’s framing not only distorts these protections—it undermines them.
There was no felony, no violence, and no constitutional justification for either the use of force or the call for censure.
⚖️ Why This Matters
This is not just a political story. It is a constitutional alarm bell. Senator Padilla was detained while performing the duties of his office—raising concerns about possible government misconduct. The use of force against a sitting U.S. senator is a direct affront to separation of powers and the First Amendment.
Padilla said it plainly, shortly before being detained:
"We need to push back and demand accountability before it's too late." [⁴]
🚨 This incident signals a dangerous shift:
Peaceful protest is being conflated with criminal conduct
Federal agents are being used to suppress dissent
Lawmakers who speak out are facing physical retaliation
Congressional leadership is failing to defend constitutional boundaries
🔥 The Pattern of Authoritarian Escalation
Senator Cory Booker laid out the bigger picture:
“This is a pattern and a practice... more akin to authoritarian governments—arresting mayors, judges, and now a U.S. senator asking questions.” [¹⁰]
Senator Elizabeth Warren emphasized the strategy:
“This is a continuation of what we've been seeing: intimidate every check on presidential power... This is not a drill. This is an assault on our democracy.” [¹²]
Senator Brian Schatz was even more direct:
“This is the stuff of dictatorship.” [¹²]
Rep. John Mannion, speaking from the House floor, implored the press:
“This is f------ madness, man!... This country's falling apart. We need you to hold them accountable.” [¹¹]
🕊️ Context: Protest, Power, and Intimidation
This incident comes just days before nationwide “No Kings” demonstrations. More than 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines have already been deployed to Los Angeles. [¹²] The timing is no coincidence—it signals a deliberate effort to chill dissent.
As Padilla later warned:
“If this is how DHS responds to a senator with a question, imagine what they’re doing to farmworkers, to cooks, to day laborers…” [⁴]
This is how constitutional boundaries erode: not with fanfare, but with silence—and the normalization of force.
🚨 The Constitutional Crisis We Face
This isn't ordinary political conflict—it is a direct assault on the separation of powers.
A sitting U.S. Senator was detained by executive agents while conducting oversight. The Speaker of the House defended it. The White House mocked it. And most of Congress stayed silent.
Even Republican Senator Susan Collins offered only:
“I don’t know what preceded it... It’s hard to imagine a justification for that.”
That hedged language reveals the deeper danger: when constitutional abuses are treated as ambiguous, democracy is at risk.
📬 Take Action
Democracy depends on constitutional accountability and the rule of law. Today, we need every American—regardless of party affiliation—to contact their representatives and demand they uphold their sworn oaths to defend the Constitution.
This is not about politics. This is about protecting the institution of Congress itself.
When the Executive Branch uses force against a sitting Senator performing constitutional oversight, every member of Congress—Republican and Democrat alike—should be alarmed. The separation of powers protects all of us by ensuring no single branch can silence the others.
The founders designed our system with checks and balances precisely to prevent the concentration of power. Today, we need representatives who will honor that design and defend democratic institutions—regardless of which party controls them.
1) 📩 Email your Senators and Representative (all at once in 3 easy steps):
Copy the message below
Click here to Go to Democracy.io
Paste the message (personalize if you’d like), fill in your info, and click Submit
📝 Message to the Senate and the House
Subject: Stand Up for Congress. Defend the Constitution.
I am writing as a concerned constituent alarmed by the forcible detention of U.S. Senator Alex Padilla while performing his constitutional oversight duties. This incident—caught on video and widely reported—shows Senator Padilla being tackled and handcuffed by federal agents after identifying himself and attempting to ask a question of the DHS Secretary at a public press conference.
There was no violence. There was no threat. There was no justification for force.
What makes this incident particularly alarming is not only the executive branch's use of physical force against a sitting U.S. Senator—but also the failure of congressional leaders to defend the Constitution. House Speaker Mike Johnson publicly mischaracterized the incident and called for Senator Padilla's censure, contradicting video evidence and undermining Congress’s institutional role.
The separation of powers is not a partisan issue. It is the bedrock of our constitutional democracy. If members of Congress can be silenced or physically restrained while performing their duties, what protections remain for any of us?
I urge you to:
Speak out publicly to defend Congress as a coequal branch of government
Call for a full investigation into the conduct of federal agents involved
Demand accountability from the executive branch
Oppose any attempt to punish Senator Padilla for fulfilling his constitutional role
This is not about politics. It is about protecting the Constitution and preserving democratic institutions. Please stand up for your fellow member—and for Congress as a coequal branch of government. This moment is grave. Congress must assert its constitutional authority to ensure the rule of law is upheld.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
2) 📲 Text RESIST to 50409 or message via facebook.com/resistbot (where you can send an email, text, or fax!)
Copy the message below (and personalize if you’d like)
Text RESIST to 50409 or Message Via facebook.com/resistbot
📝 Message (Shorter format for Text Messages to Senators)
The forcible detention of Senator Padilla while performing constitutional oversight threatens the separation of powers that protects our democracy. Please stand up for Congress as a coequal branch and demand accountability from the Executive Branch. This is about defending the Constitution, not politics.
📚 Footnotes
[1] Washington Post: Sen. Alex Padilla of California forcibly removed from DHS news conference (June 12, 2025) https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/06/12/alex-pandilla-noem-press-conference-removed/
[2] The Guardian: "California senator tackled by DHS agents during Noem press conference." (June 12, 2025) https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jun/12/los-angeles-protests-alex-padilla-kristi-noem
[3] Reuters: "Democratic US Senator Padilla forced to ground, handcuffed by security agents." (June 12, 2025) https://www.reuters.com/world/us/sen-padilla-says-he-was-forced-ground-handcuffed-during-noem-press-conference-2025-06-12/
[4] NBC News: "Sen. Alex Padilla is forcibly removed from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's news conference in Los Angeles." (June 12, 2025) https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/sen-alex-padilla-forcibly-removed-dhs-sec-kristi-noems-press-conferenc-rcna212688
[5] The Hill: "Johnson, heckled by Democrats, backs censure for Padilla." (June 12, 2025) https://thehill.com/homenews/house/5347773-johnson-padilla-press-conference-censure/
[6] Raw Story: "'Wildly inappropriate behavior': Mike Johnson slams Padilla after handcuffing" (June 12, 2025) https://www.rawstory.com/mike-johnson-alex-padilla/
[7] Raw Story: "'That's a lie!' Mike Johnson shouted down by lawmakers after remarks on Padilla" (June 12, 2025) https://www.rawstory.com/mike-johnson-padilla-lie/
[8] TIME: "Democratic Senator Slammed to the Ground and Handcuffed at Kristi Noem Event in L.A." (June 12, 2025) https://time.com/7293667/alex-padilla-noem-los-angeles/
[9] NBC News: "White House slams Padilla for 'theater-kid stunt' that led to handcuffing" (June 12, 2025) https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/live-blog/trump-administration-immigration-doge-rand-paul-hogg-dnc-live-updates-rcna211676
[10] NBC News: "Cory Booker calls Padilla's handcuffing a 'pattern and a practice' by the Trump administration" (June 12, 2025) https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/live-blog/trump-administration-immigration-doge-rand-paul-hogg-dnc-live-updates-rcna211676
[11] NBC News: "Democratic lawmaker tells GOP colleague to 'get some f------ balls' during clash over Padilla handcuffing" (June 12, 2025) https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/live-blog/trump-administration-immigration-doge-rand-paul-hogg-dnc-live-updates-rcna211676
[12] Boston Globe: "'This is not a drill': Padilla's confrontation in LA deepens divide before nationwide protests" (June 12, 2025) https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/06/12/nation/this-is-not-a-drill-senator-padillas-detention-deepens-partisan-divide/
Engage For Democracy explainers are curated through close analysis of primary legal documents and expert sources, with research and editorial support from OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude. All findings are independently reviewed and documented with verifiable citations. Engage For Democracy is a nonpartisan civic education project committed to constitutional accountability, the rule of law, and democratic norms. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, any inadvertent errors are mine alone.
🧭 In Closing
This is a moment that asks:
Does the Constitution still constrain power—or not?
📚 Read to understand the stakes
🤝 Share with friends, family, and colleagues from all political backgrounds
📬 Act by writing, emailing, and calling our elected officials
Let’s not answer with silence. Let’s rise to meet the moment.
In solidarity,
Engage For Democracy