Alex Padilla
============

Alex Padilla is a U.S. Senator from California. John Kiriakou says video of a June 2025 incident clearly shows Padilla identifying himself, "I'm U.S. Senator Alex Padilla", before being taken to the ground and handcuffed anyway. Kiriakou says DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's public claim that Padilla had failed to identify himself was false.

Kiriakou notes that because Padilla was present at the event in the course of his official duties as a senator, he has congressional immunity and cannot be charged with any crime, making the White House's subsequently stated interest in prosecuting him legally baseless. He says the administration ultimately backed off its account, including a separate, also-false claim that Padilla had "charged into the room."

See also

- John Kiriakou
