Kristi Noem Claims Senator Who Tried to Ask Her Questions Was Manhandled by DHS Agents Because ‘He Attacked Me’

On Tuesday, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revisited her infamous encounter with Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) and claimed that the senator was manhandled because he had “attacked” her.

Back in June, Noem held a press conference in Los Angeles as Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents conducted raids across the region, where President Donald Trump had also deployed the National Guard.

“I’m Senator Alex Padilla, I have questions for the secretary,” he said at the time, as security staffers grabbed him and escorted him out of the room. “Because the fact of the matter of is, a half-a-dozen violent criminals, that you’re rotating on your — on your — HANDS OFF!”

Agents forced Padilla to the ground in a hallway, where he was handcuffed.

Noem appeared on Tuesday’s Jesse Watters Primetime on Fox News, hours after Padilla questioned Attorney General Pam Bondi in a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. At one point, Bondi accused Padilla of having “stormed” at Noem during the incident in June, which Padilla denied.

“He absolutely did storm at me,” Noem told Jesse Watters. “Yes, I know he absolutely did storm at me,
in fact. He hit the ground because of how he attacked me that day. So, it’s hard to deny the video evidence.”

“Do you think that might lead to people attacking ICE officers?” Watters asked. “Just kind of that performance by a public official? You know, months later, you see ICE agents under assault.”

“No, you should see the conversations outside,” Noem replied. “They’re threatening their lives. They’re saying molotovs melt ice. They’re talking about using weapons of destruction against our officers. And then these politicians stand up and say, ‘Well, we just need to talk some more.'”

Watch above.