FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Matt Dorsey
(202) 550-6987
June 12, 2025
Washington, D.C. – Today, National Federation of Federal Employees (NFFE-IAM) condemns the detainment of Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA), who was forcefully removed from a press conference while asking a question of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem.
“It is despicable that a sitting U.S. Senator, while conducting official duties in his home state, was violently detained simply for attempting to ask a question of a public official,” said NFFE National President Randy Erwin. “This is a disturbing abuse of power by the Trump Administration and the President, who has already called for the arrest of a governor and threatened other state and local officials. It shows a blatant disregard for the Constitution and States’ rights.”
“The President and his Administration are not above the law,” continued Erwin. “Republicans in Congress should be equally appalled by unwarranted threats to public officials. These attacks undermine the rule of law and American democracy, and no member of Congress should tolerate the authoritarian actions of the Trump Administration.”