1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's actions in forcibly removing Senator Alex Padilla from her press conference were unacceptable and a severe breach of democratic norms. Padilla, as an elected representative, had every right to be present and ask questions. Noem lied about the incident, falsely claiming Padilla was being aggressive when video evidence shows otherwise. Noem's agents using excessive force against a sitting U.S. Senator demonstrates her administration's flagrant disregard for civil liberties and lack of transparency. This incident is part of a disturbing pattern of authoritarian overreach by Noem, from her deployment of troops against protesters to her attempts to skirt lawful oversight. For the sake of restoring accountability and respect for democratic institutions, Noem must resign immediately. Her continuation in this critical leadership role poses an ongoing threat to the fundamental rights of all Americans.