Curse words and outrage peppered reactions by New Mexico’s elected U.S. senators and representatives to news that California’s Hispanic Senator, Alex Padilla, was forcibly removed by law enforcement from a press conference with U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on Thursday.
Kristi later told reporters that Padilla had not identified himself, though video widely circulated online clearly shows him saying, “I am Senator Alex Padilla.” Padilla was present to receive a briefing on the L.A. security situation from federal law enforcement.
Democrats, including all of New Mexico’s Congressional delegation, were immediately united in outrage. A few moderate Republicans also expressed concerns over the incident.
Here’s how New Mexico’s members of Congress reacted:
U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich
New Mexico’s senior senator spared no words in an Instagram reel no longer visible on his public profile.
A screenshot of the post captured by nm.news shows Heinrich’s personal and campaign account sharing the video with the comment “Fucking thugs.”
U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján
Senator Luján spoke to the Senate calling the actions by federal law enforcement “manhandling.”
Congresswoman Melanie Stansbury
Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez
Congressman Gabe Vasquez had not provided a statement or posted by press time.
Democracy dies and the right applauds. I wonder how they will react when turnabout becomes fair play.
Thucking Fugs…
I expected it from third grader Stansbury but not from 6th grader Heinrich
I expected decent and respectable behavior from cabinet members. A simple “Senator, I think you’re interrupting. Let’s talk later” would have done the trick. Violence like this is childish bullying.
Cursing and Antics are not the way to sway voters. Flip NM Red !!
Throwing people to the ground and cuffing them when they are trying to do their jobs won’t sway voters either.