Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Democrat from Texas, recently shared an emotional reaction during a podcast interview regarding the forcible removal of California Senator Alex Padilla from a Department of Homeland Security press conference in June. Speaking on comedian Hasan Minhaj’s podcast, Crockett recounted how she was taken aback by the incident, which was captured on video and widely circulated online. She described her immediate reaction upon seeing the footage, stating, “I literally just broke down in tears and started crying.”

Crockett highlighted the significance of Padilla’s position as the first Latino senator from California and expressed her dismay at the lack of respect shown towards him during the incident. She emphasized that no one should be subjected to such treatment for exercising their right to free speech, criticizing the administration’s handling of the situation as “sinister.”

The incident occurred during a DHS press conference in Los Angeles on June 12, where Padilla interrupted Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem while she was delivering her remarks. Despite identifying himself as a senator, Padilla was quickly surrounded by Secret Service and FBI agents who restrained him and briefly handcuffed him on the floor. The event sparked widespread media attention and mixed reactions from lawmakers.

While Republicans accused Padilla of creating a spectacle, over 200 Democrats condemned what they described as an “unprecedented incident.” The situation unfolded against a backdrop of riots in Los Angeles, which were triggered by ICE raids and led to President Donald Trump deploying the National Guard and imposing curfews in the city.