June 12, 2025 Press Release

Sonoma County Democrats Condemn Homeland Security’s Assault and Detainment of Senator Alex Padilla

“We Stand with Our Democracy. We Stand with Senator Padilla.”

Sonoma County, CA — The Sonoma County Democratic Party unequivocally condemns the violent and unlawful detainment of U.S. Senator Alex Padilla by agents under the direction of
the Department of Homeland Security.

Despite clearly identifying himself by name and title, Senator Padilla was forcibly removed from a public press conference, thrown to the ground, and handcuffed—all for attempting to ask a
question.

As Senator Padilla later stated, “If this is how the Department of Homeland Security responds to a senator with a question, you can only imagine what they’re doing to farmers, to cooks, to day-
laborers throughout the Los Angeles community and throughout California and throughout the country.”

This was not enforcement. This was not security. This was an assault on the first amendment.

Though Senator Padilla has been released, the harm—and the message—has already been delivered: dissent will be punished, questions will be silenced, and power will be enforced through fear.

We demand:

– Immediate suspension and full investigation of all Homeland Security agents involved in the physical assault and detainment of Senator Padilla.

– Removal of Secretary Kristi Noem from her position, due to her demonstrated unfitness to lead and failure to uphold the constitutional standards required of her office.

– A formal inquiry into DHS protocols, use of force, and chain of command during public press events.

– Established protections for all elected officials—regardless of party or position—to ensure they can safely fulfill their duties without threat of violence or retaliation.

Let us be absolutely clear: No elected official should be assaulted for doing their job.

No American should be detained for asking a question.

This is not merely a breach of protocol—it is a direct threat to democratic governance.

If this is allowed to stand, the precedent is set: intimidation replaces dialogue, and the Constitution is hollowed from within.

California will not be intimidated. We will not allow state-sanctioned violence to become the norm—not against our leaders, not against our neighbors, not against anyone seeking truth and
accountability.

We stand with Senator Padilla.

We stand for democracy.

We stand for the right to speak truth to power—without fear.

Sonoma Democratic Party Chair,

Pat Sabo