- United States
- Mich.
- Letter
The recent incident involving Senator Padilla's forcible removal from a Department of Homeland Security press conference is deeply concerning and unacceptable in a democratic society. As an elected representative, Senator Padilla has a responsibility to seek information and provide oversight of executive agencies like DHS. The use of force against him, a sitting U.S. Senator attempting to ask a question, represents a dangerous escalation and threat to the system of checks and balances that is fundamental to our democracy. This disturbing event calls into question Secretary Noem's leadership and judgment. Her casual dismissal of the senator's mistreatment and her department's subsequent justification of excessive force are alarming. Such actions erode public trust in DHS and its stated mission. For these reasons, I urge Secretary Noem to resign immediately. The American people deserve senior government officials who respect democratic norms and the rule of law. Restoring integrity and accountability at DHS must be an urgent priority to protect our civil liberties and constitutional rights.