1. United States
2. N.C.
3. Letter

Members of Congress have been swift in their reactions, with Democrats outraged over Senator Padilla's forcible removal and demanding an investigation and public condemnation of Secretary Noem and federal law enforcement officials. They view this incident as an assault on a lawmaker exercising oversight, setting a dangerous precedent that undermines democratic norms and civil liberties. In contrast, Republicans have criticized Senator Padilla's behavior as inappropriate disruption of official proceedings. This event has exacerbated partisan tensions surrounding the use of force against elected representatives and underscored the pressing need for robust accountability measures to protect constitutional rights and maintain the integrity of governing institutions.