Democratic Senator from California Alex Padilla at a briefing in Los Angeles on June 12 tried to ask a question to US Secretary of Homeland Security Christie Noem. In response, federal agents pushed the senator out of the room, put him on his knees and put his face on the floor.
"I am a senator. Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary," said Padilla Noem.
After that, several men pushed the senator out of the room. It was unclear, writes NBC News, who these men were, since some of them were in civilian clothes.
California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on social media that Padilla is one of the most decent people he knows.
"This is outrageous, dictatorial and shameful. Trump and his punishers are out of control. This must stop immediately," Newsom said.
Padilla's office shared a video of the incident with the media. In a statement, the senator's office said that Padilla was in Los Angeles to carry out Congressional oversight of government activities in the city and throughout the state. The statement also notes that the senator is no longer in custody.