North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis (R) on Wednesday criticized the forceful removal of Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) from a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) press conference last week, while also critiquing his “inappropriate” behavior.
Tillis said the incident, which followed a handful of escalations with Democratic lawmakers, was “disgusting” during a speech on the floor.
“There were clearly people in that building that knew he was a U.S. senator. So the minute he was removed from that situation in that briefing room, then they should have treated him with respect and allowed him to disperse,” Tillis said Wednesday.
“It was disgusting to me to see somebody wrestle to the floor, anybody, but particularly a U.S. senator that's in a federal building,” he added.
Padilla was escorted to the news conference by federal agents and was handcuffed after trying to ask a question during DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s remarks.
“We have daily, weekly press conference out here with leadership. We've got a press room on the third floor. I wonder if we're actually saying it's OK for me to run out here and interrupt Sen. Schumer while he's giving his opening statements to a presser to ask him a question,” Tillis said, referring to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.).
“I think that that's inappropriate… Senator Padilla should have found a better way to elevate his concerns to the Secretary of Homeland Security rather than going in there and having that dust-up,” he added.
Padilla has defended his actions and said the Thursday incident makes him fear for the treatment of immigrants.
“I will say this: If this is how this administration responds to a senator with a question, I can only imagine what they’re doing to farmworkers to cooks to day laborers out in the Los Angeles community and throughout California and throughout the country,” the California lawmaker said during a separate press conference last week.
Tillis on Wednesday cautioned elected officials to think twice before handling concerns with the policies of federal law enforcement.
“I would just say to those who are tempted now to think that they can act like they're off the hinge and they should interrupt a press conference or threaten police officials to arrest them, to think twice. Step up and be leaders. If you've got a point, don't go trying to trend on social media by getting in somebody's face,” Tillis said.
“Make a point. You want to make a point, that's what you do. You want to make a difference, then come to the Senate floor and try to figure out how to get your policies through,” he added.
“That's how this place should work."
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