Condemn violation of Sen. Padilla's rights at DHS briefing

The actions taken against Sen. Padilla at the DHS press conference are a deeply concerning violation of democratic principles and civil liberties. As an elected representative, Sen. Padilla has a fundamental right to attend government briefings, ask questions, and provide oversight - forcibly removing and handcuffing him for attempting to do so is an egregious abuse of power. This seems to be part of a broader pattern of the administration cracking down on dissent and free speech in the name of "law and order." Such heavy-handed tactics, reminiscent of authoritarian regimes, have no place in our democracy. I urge you to condemn this incident in the strongest terms and take immediate action to investigate the conduct of DHS personnel involved. Failure to hold those responsible accountable will only enable further erosion of constitutional rights and democratic norms. We cannot allow this administration's overreach to go unchecked. Decisive leadership is needed to protect our democratic institutions and freedoms.