Representative Adriano Espaillat Condemns the Attack Against United States Senator Alex Padilla by Sec. Noem's Security Personnel

WASHINGTON, DC — Representative Adriano Espaillat(NY-13), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) issued the following statement condemning the assault against U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) at a press conference held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles.

"Today, Sen. Alex Padilla was shoved, tackled, handcuffed and detained while attempting to fulfill his constitutional duties," said Espaillat. 

"That in itself would be a scandal, but the assailants were staff working for Kristi Noem, the secretary of Homeland Security. This escalation is dangerous and unacceptable.

"The Congressional Hispanic Caucus stands with our brother, Alex Padilla, a leader who represents all Californians.

"We demand a full investigation into Padilla's attackers and call for Secretary Noem's resignation -- it is painfully clear she is not fit to helm this critical agency."

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Representative Espaillat is the first Dominican American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives and his congressional district includes Harlem, East Harlem, West Harlem, Hamilton Heights, Washington Heights, Inwood, Marble Hill and the north-west Bronx. First elected to Congress in 2016, Representative Espaillat is serving his fifth term in Congress. Representative Espaillat currently serves as a member of the influential U.S. House Committee on Appropriations responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities and serves as Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the committee during the 119th Congress. He is Chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), and serves as a Senior Whip of the Democratic Caucus. To find out more about Rep. Espaillat, visit online at https://espaillat.house.gov/. 

Media inquiries: Candace Person at Candace.Person@mail.house.gov