Vermont Business Magazine Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) and Peter Welch (D-Vermont) on Thursday released the following statements after federal agents assaulted Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) at a press conference in Los Angeles Thursday afternoon:
Bernie Sanders: "The assault in California by federal agents against my colleague Sen. Alex Padilla was outrageous, and those responsible must be held accountable.
"Tragically, what happened to Sen. Padilla today is becoming normal behavior for a Trump administration which is moving us toward authoritarianism.
"Trump is attacking the judiciary. He is attacking the media. He is attacking law firms. He is attacking universities. He is attacking immigrants, the poor and workers in every corner of this country.
"And today they handcuffed a senator from the largest state in the country.
"The American people do not like petty tyrants. We defeated King George in 1776. We will defeat King Donald."
Peter Welch:
“What we have just witnessed should shock the conscience of every Member of Congress and every American. Today, a sitting U.S. Senator, a son of immigrants, was physically accosted, handcuffed, and forcibly removed by federal agents for attempting to ask a question to the Secretary of Homeland Security about the lawless actions of the agency in his state. Senator Padilla, on behalf of a coequal branch of government, was seeking information on behalf of his constituents at a public event—he was doing his job.
“Make no mistake: the Trump Administration is violating the Constitution and is refusing to take questions or criticism about their illegal actions. This behavior is outrageous, shocking, and unacceptable. Every Republican, including President Trump, must immediately condemn this shameful incident.”
WASHINGTON, June 12, 2025.
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