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U.S. Senator Alex Padilla Forcibly Removed and Arrested For Heckling DHS Secretary Kristi Noem During Press Briefing (VIDEO)

Hentenza

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The videos all start with him stopping at the front of the room or after he's already being shoved out of the room, so I don't know how you could possibly see that. There is no footage of his approach to the front of the room. He does struggle to stay upright as he's shoved backwards, which, taken on its own, might appear like someone trying to push through, but context makes the intent of the action pretty clear.

He identified himself and stated his intentions ("I'm Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the Secretary."). Given the situation (a closed briefing in a secure building, he entered the room in the company of an escort of federal agents, and his general lack of any sort of threatening posture, actions, or language), the detail's actions were excessive. If they truly thought the Secretary was in danger, why did no one move to cover her or get her out of the room?

They talked. My impression is that no "peace" was made though, and Senator Padilla was not pleased with Noem's responses to his questions.
That he identified himself is largely questionable. Noem said that he did not and was forcibly lunging at the podium. Her statement is consistent with her security detail’s reaction.
 
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The Barbarian

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That’s what happened after he got out of his chair and lunged at the podium.
But no one can show us this? He was at the rear of the room. Must have been quite a lunge, um? I'm pretty sure why no one has that video.
 
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RocksInMyHead

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That he identified himself is largely questionable.
No, it isn't. It's clearly audible in the video.
Noem said that he did not and was forcibly lunging at the podium.
I'm willing to buy that Noem didn't hear him identify himself, but her claim that he "lunged" at her is a pretty obvious lie.

Her statement is consistent with her security detail’s reaction.
Not really - if he was "lunging" at the podium, I would expect a far more aggressive response than simply shoving him out of the room.
 
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Hentenza

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No, it isn't. It's clearly audible in the video.

I'm willing to buy that Noem didn't hear him identify himself, but her claim that he "lunged" at her is a pretty obvious lie.


Not really - if he was "lunging" at the podium, I would expect a far more aggressive response than simply shoving him out of the room.
Wait. He did not identify himself BEFORE he started lunging toward the podium. Once he did it was too late and the security detail was already on removal mode. Why didn’t he identify himself before he started resisting?
 
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RocksInMyHead

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Wait. He did not identify himself BEFORE he started lunging toward the podium.
Again with the "lunging". A man struggling to stay on his feet while being shoved backwards is not "lunging" at anyone. This is like when the cops grab a suspect's arms and tell him to put his hands behind his back, but he can't because they're holding his arms, so they cite him for "resisting arrest."
Why didn’t he identify himself before he started resisting?
Perhaps he assumed that the Secretary would recognize a Senator - especially one who she has had multiple meetings and hearings with given his position on the committee that oversees her department. Perhaps he assumed that the federal agents he was accompanied by had informed the secretary's detail of his identity. Perhaps he assumed that the Secretary's detail would recognize one of the two Senators for the state they were currently in. Or perhaps it didn't even cross his mind that someone walking to the front of the room to ask questions at a press briefing would get this sort of response. There are probably infinitely more potential reasons, but you'd have to ask Senator Padilla if you want the real answer.
 
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Hentenza

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Again with the "lunging". A man struggling to stay on his feet while being shoved backwards is not "lunging" at anyone. This is like when the cops grab a suspect's arms and tell him to put his hands behind his back, but he can't because they're holding his arms, so they cite him for "resisting arrest."

Perhaps he assumed that the Secretary would recognize a Senator - especially one who she has had multiple meetings and hearings with given his position on the committee that oversees her department. Perhaps he assumed that the federal agents he was accompanied by had informed the secretary's detail of his identity. Perhaps he assumed that the Secretary's detail would recognize one of the two Senators for the state they were currently in. Or perhaps it didn't even cross his mind that someone walking to the front of the room to ask questions at a press briefing would get this sort of response. There are probably infinitely more potential reasons, but you'd have to ask Senator Padilla if you want the real answer.
Perhaps. But the end result is the same. The security detail perceived him as a threat and acted according to their training. Maybe from now on senators and congressmen (or congresswomen) from both parties will raise their hand and wait their turn. They should have learned that in kindergarten.
 
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ralliann

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She is a joke.

"We are not going away,” We are staying here to liberate this city from the socialists and the burdensome leadership that this governor and that this mayor have placed on this country and what they have tried to insert into the city."

DHS Secretary Noem's comments just before Senator Padilla spoke up.
So what?
 
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Hans Blaster

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Hentenza

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Can you demonstrate he even had a chair and was seated in it?
You can see the seating area in front of the podium at the beginning of the video. If he wasn’t seated then it would be even worse for him. Not sure how this argument helps you.
 
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Hans Blaster

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You can see the seating area in front of the podium at the beginning of the video. If he wasn’t seated then it would be even worse for him. Not sure how this argument helps you.
Which video (Post #)?
 
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RocksInMyHead

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You can see the seating area in front of the podium at the beginning of the video. If he wasn’t seated then it would be even worse for him. Not sure how this argument helps you.
Why would you think it's worse if he wasn't seated?
 
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Hentenza

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BCP1928

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Perhaps. But the end result is the same. The security detail perceived him as a threat and acted according to their training. Maybe from now on senators and congressmen (or congresswomen) from both parties will raise their hand and wait their turn. They should have learned that in kindergarten.
They're not in kindergarten any more. Senators and Representatives have oversight of that department of government. They have supoena power and the right to enter and inspect the work of the department at any time. They don't have to "raise their hand."
 
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Hentenza

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They're not in kindergarten any more.
you better remind them then.
Senators and Representatives have oversight of that department of government. They have supoena power and the right to enter and inspect the work of the department at any time. They don't have to "raise their hand."
There is decorum. They don’t have the right to rudely interrupt a press conference that they are not a part off. The right to be rude is not afforded to anyone. They should set the example to the rest of the country by being civil and respectful.
 
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RocksInMyHead

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you better remind them then.

There is decorum. They don’t have the right to rudely interrupt a press conference that they are not a part off. The right to be rude is not afforded to anyone.
Au contraire, the right to be rude is afforded to everyone. There may be consequences for rudeness, but not legal ones, thanks to the 1st Amendment.
 
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