In a letter to FBI Director Kash Patel, the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, Ranking Member Jamie Raskin (D-MD), has launched a formal scrutiny into the forceful removal and handcuffing of Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) by federal agents, including FBI personnel, at a Los Angeles press conference last week.
The incident, captured on video, has been decried by Raskin as “another vivid episode of authoritarian tactics and brute force being used to crush oversight and critical questioning.”
READ: California Sen. Padilla’s Capitol Hill Tears: Was DHS Clash Political Theater?
Raskin’s letter to Director Patel directly challenges the FBI’s involvement, demanding a comprehensive explanation for why “asking government officials to answer basic questions is such a threat to this Administration that it would resort to such tactics against a United States Senator?”
He links the treatment of Senator Padilla to a disturbing pattern of alleged abuses of power by the current administration, citing instances of “masked agents in unmarked vans to disappear people,” violations of free speech and due process, and defiance of judicial orders.
The letter details the June 12th incident at the Wilshire Federal Building, where Senator Padilla, while waiting for a scheduled briefing, learned of an “impromptu” press conference by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem.
Senator Padilla states he clearly identified himself, proclaiming, “I am Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the Secretary,” before being forcibly dragged from the room.
READ: Op-Ed: California Senator Padilla’s Calculated Disruption
Video shows agents wearing FBI vests forcing him to his knees, wrenching his arms backward, and slamming him face-first onto the ground before handcuffing him. Padilla repeatedly asked why he was being detained but received no response until an aide to Secretary Noem instructed his release.
Secretary Noem’s office and the DHS initially claimed Senator Padilla interrupted the press conference “without identifying himself.”
Raskin explicitly refutes Secretary Noem’s claims, stating that videos “clearly refute each of these bogus claims.”
In his demand for immediate answers and a full investigation, Raskin has requested:
- A detailed accounting of the FBI’s operational involvement, including a timeline, chain of command, and justification for the use of force against Senator Padilla.
- A formal statement from the FBI on whether the agents’ conduct violated 18 U.S.C. § 351(e) (Assaulting a Member of Congress) and if the matter has been referred to the DOJ’s Public Integrity Section.
- Copies of all communications between the DOJ, FBI, DHS, and U.S. Secret Service regarding Senator Padilla and the incident.
Raskin has also called for a briefing by June 25, 2025, to address disciplinary measures taken, any independent investigations initiated, and whether the scope of such investigations includes patterns of unlawful or excessive force by federal agents.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
