This is wrong on so many levels
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The Trump administration defended its handcuffing of Sen. Alex Padilla on Thursday, saying the Secret Service believed he was an attacker during a news conference with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin accused Padilla of “disrespectful political theater” and said officers “acted appropriately” in a statement following the incident. Noem and Padilla met for 15 minutes after the press conference, she said.
The forcible removal and handcuffing of the California senator just as he was identifying himself marked the latest escalation between the Trump administration and Democrats over immigration, with members of Padilla’s party roundly denouncing the encounter.
Video provided by Padilla’s office shows the senator approaching the lectern as Noem was speaking. He was stopped and shoved back by multiple men.
“I’m Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary,” he said. He tried to speak further as he was forcibly removed into an adjoining room, where he yelled “Hands off!”
The video shows Padilla being forced to the ground and his arms handcuffed behind his back.
Be sure to watch the video.
