Senator Padilla’s Outburst at Sec. Noem DHS Briefing as Fundraiser Fodder

U.S Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), the Democratic National Party (DNC), and other Democrats released a huge wave of fundraising requests early on Friday, using the incident from Thursday where Padilla was detained and briefly handcuffed as a catalyst for donations.

Capitalizing on the incident, Padilla remarked in a mass e-mail that what they were doing to others were worse than to what happened to him on Thursday. And to donate to keep his fight going.

“If that’s what they do to a United States Senator with a question, imagine what they do to farm workers, day laborers, cooks, and the other nonviolent immigrants they are targeting in California and across the country,” said Padilla in his fundraising e-mail.

Schiff, however, was far more aggressive, ignoring the fact that Padilla barged into a press conference without security clearance.

“All Alex was trying to do was ask a question and do his job of oversight,” said Schiff in an e-mail.  “Padilla is one of the most decent people I know.

“While Alex and I continue to demand accountability from this administration and fight for Californians, please pitch in to our campaigns to help us keep up this incredibly important work.”

“Alex Padilla was wrongfully and forcefully removed from and handcuffed at a DHS press conference — all for demanding oversight and accountability,” added a joint Padilla/Schiff fundraising page request. “Chip in to support Alex and Adam fight for Californians, defend our rights, and stand up to the Trump administration.”

And the list of donors using the Padilla incident for money continues on:

DNC – “Democrats like Alex Padilla are standing up and speaking out. We can — and will — elect more Democrats who will check Trump’s power. But it’s only possible with your help. The incident isn’t normal and are steps toward authoritarianism.”

Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) – “There can be no justification for this.”

Susan Bellows (D) Maine Governor candidate – “What happened to Senator Alex Padilla this afternoon is appalling.”

Former Vice President Kamala through her Harris Victory Fund, Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ), Defend Our Courts, Resist Reclaim Rebuild. These are just a handful of the Democratic lawmakers and groups using the Padilla incident for donations.

A call for donations following detainment

However, a problem that is keeping it from being used by every Democrat out there is that Padilla was at least partially at fault for what happened.

When the press conference first began, it was Secretary Noem simply going over immigration and the ongoing anti-ICE protests and riots that have been raging in the city for the past week. However, in the middle of the conference, Padilla entered the press conference, announced himself, and proceeded to try and question Noem. Multiple members of security swiftly grabbed him and proceeded to pull him back out into the hall way. As it was a press conference, the entire incident was caught on multiple cameras and smart phones.

“I’m Senator Alex Padilla,” said the Senator as he was pushed back by security, with no one there immediately knowing who he was. “I have questions for the Secretary. Because the fact of the matter is that a half a dozen criminals that are-.”

From there the Senator was cut off in the hallway, and was only heard adding “Hands off!” Then he was brought to the ground, briefly handcuffed and detained before being led out after it was confirmed who he is. In a video later posted on X, Padilla clarified that while he was cleared to be inside the building for something else, the press conference was being held in a room down the hallway from where he was waiting. He claimed that after hearing some of what Noem said, he became incensed and barged his way in to try and question her during the press conference. Secret Service and FBI agents stopped him as he didn’t have security clearance. While Padilla did identify himself, he only did so verbally, with security unsure as to who he really was initially.

Despite the law enforcement just doing their jobs and acting on what information they had, Padilla blew up the incident on Thursday, with others in the party following. And while he said it was more of a spur of the moment thing, Republicans quickly accused him of it being political theatre. In a post on X, the DHS released a statement saying that, while acknowledging Padilla is a Senator and does have some privileges, he did not have a security pin needed and was not complying with the demands from officers and members of the Secret Service. It was also revealed that Noem and Padilla spoke for 15 minutes awhile after the scuffle.

“Senator Padilla chose disrespectful political theatre and interrupted a live press conference without identifying himself or having his Senate security pin on as he lunged toward Secretary Noem,” said the DHS. “Mr. Padilla was told repeatedly to back away and did not comply with officers’ repeated commands. Secret Service thought he was an attacker and officers acted appropriately. Secretary Noem met with Senator Padilla after and held a 15 minute meeting.”

Charges of a political stunt

The White House and GOP lawmakers also called out Padilla’s incident as a political stunt for attention.

“Padilla stormed a press conference, without wearing his Senate pin or previously identifying himself to security, yelled, and lunged toward Secretary Noem. Padilla didn’t want answers; he wanted attention,” added White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson. “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.

“Democrat officials and their staffers are growing increasingly radical and extreme. It’s alarming they think they can obstruct federal law enforcement or physically push officers while charging a cabinet secretary without consequence.”

“This was a political stunt,” expressed Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC). “He got what he wanted. He’s on TV.”

“The facts matter: Senator Padilla chose to interrupt a scheduled press conference — to score political points,” posted Congressman Andy Harris (R-MD) on X. “When you disrupt, you should expect pushback. Those are the consequences of trying to turn a serious discussion into a political stunt.”

When it comes down to it, it was probably a mix of things. Padilla likely was upset about overhearing Noem talking about immigration and the L.A. protests and went in. The rational thing to do would be to make notes of what she said, talk to her later about them, then give a statement later explaining how he was challenging those claims. But interrupting a press conference that was being nationally televised with dozens of members of the media in the room? That’s something that takes pre-meditation.

Yes, part of his job is to question the executive branch – checks and balances. Everyone defending Padilla is saying that. But it was how he did it and the reasons for doing so in such a public setting that aren’t sitting well with half the country. Many Democratic lawmakers, like Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME), are even siding with the GOP on this. It would have been one thing if Padilla was there with proper security clearance and was sitting in the audience when it happened – but he just rushed in.

Despite that, many Democrats are using the incident to get attention and money.

As of Friday afternoon, fundraising e-mails, texts, and letters using the incident are continuing to go out, with polls currently being conducted to find where Americans fall on the issue.