Ranking Member Raskin Demands Investigation of FBI’s Role in Unlawful Detention of Senator Padilla

Washington, D.C. (June 18, 2025)—Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel, demanding an immediate investigation and answers regarding the FBI’s role in the assault on, and detention of, Senator Alex Padilla at a public press conference in a federal building in Los Angeles, California.

“This assault on Senator Padilla, captured on video and broadcast worldwide, is another vivid episode of authoritarian tactics and brute force being used to crush oversight and critical questioning—including from sitting Members of Congress exercising their constitutional duty. I write to demand that you immediately provide answers and conduct an investigation into the FBI’s role in this disgraceful and indefensible assault of a Member of Congress,” wrote Ranking Member Raskin.

 On June 12, Senator Padilla was forcibly dragged out of a public press conference held by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem at the Wilshire Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles, where he attempted to get answers on the Trump Administration’s unlawful deployment of military forces in the city and brutal immigration raids.

Senator Padilla was in the building waiting for a scheduled briefing with U.S. Army officials and was escorted through the building by members of the National Guard and the FBI. Once at the press conference, Senator Padilla tried to ask a question and clearly identified himself, stating: “I am Senator Alex Padilla. I have questions for the Secretary.”  DHS has falsely claimed that Senator Padilla “did not identify himself”—a lie that is easily refuted by videos of the incident. 

Federal agents grabbed Senator Padilla and forcibly dragged him out of the room, where agents wearing FBI vests forced him to the ground and handcuffed him. Agents ignored the Senator as he repeatedly asked why he was detained. Senator Padilla was released at the instruction of an aide to Secretary Noem, and agents offered no explanation or justification for their use of force.

The assault on, and detention of, Senator Padilla, who represents more than 40 million people, is the most recent in a string of flagrant abuses of power by the Trump Administration to deter congressional oversight and intimidate Members of Congress. Earlier this month, the Trump Department of Justice brought baseless charges against Rep. LaMonica McIver, after she exercised her statutory and constitutional right, as a sitting Member of Congress, to conduct an oversight visit of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. A few weeks ago, ICE forced their way into the Manhattan district office of Rep. Jerry Nadler and handcuffed his staffer without any lawful basis.

“When Senator Padilla attempted to get answers from Secretary Noem, on behalf of his constituents, he was assaulted and handcuffed, including by agents of the FBI. Accordingly, I now demand a full investigation of the FBI’s role in the incidents of June 12 and the unlawful assault and detention of Senator Padilla,” concluded Ranking Member Raskin.

Ranking Member Raskin demanded Director Patel open an investigation, provide information, and hold a briefing with Committee staff on the FBI’s role in the incident.

Click here to read the letter.