'Fascism off the charts': Outrage erupts as Noem's 'authoritarian thugs' tackle US senator

During a Los Angeles press conference on Thursday, personnel accompanying Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem tackled and arrested Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) as he attempted to ask a question.

Fox News national correspondent Bill Melugin tweeted the video of the confrontation, in which Padilla attempts to talk up to Noem as she's speaking. Several men immediately swarmed Padilla and attempted to drag him out of the room, despite him identifying himself as a U.S. senator.

"I'm Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary," Padilla said before he was dragged out of the room. "Because the fact of the matter is — hands off!"

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Padilla's staff also posted video of Padilla being thrown to the ground in the hallway with several officers kneeling on him while cuffing his hands behind his back. It remains unknown whether any formal charges will be filed against him.

Reactions were indignant on social media, with both elected officials and commentators condemning the treatment of Padilla at the hands of law enforcement. Former CNN reporter John Harwood tweeted that he was no longer shocked at seeing actions like the tackling of Padilla, declaring that "we are living under corrupt authoritarian thugs." Bulwark podcaster Tim Miller wrote: "Who do these goons think they are? This is a press conference in a free country. It’s not a police state yet. Get your hands off our elected officials."

"I cannot get over this: a United States Senator at a PUBLIC press conference in HIS HOME CITY was brutalized by people employed by our own government," tweeted Matt Norambuena, who is deputy press secretary for Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) "Fascism off the charts."

Actor John Cusack asked his followers if they've "had enough yet" after pointing out that "homeland security goons manhandle[d]" a sitting United States senator. Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) opined that the Trump administration "cannot handle dissent of any kind," and that "they will rough up citizens, protesters, even U.S. senators."

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Watch the video of Padilla's arrest below, or by clicking this link.