California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla gave a speech on the 365bet官方网站 floor Tuesday morning, almost a week after he was forcibly removed from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's news conference in Los Angeles.

Padilla described the current situation in L.A. as "uncharted territory" after President Trump ordered the deployment of National Guard and U.S. Marine troops, following days of protests that turned violent.

"To my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, are we truly prepared to live in a country where the President can deploy the armed forces to decide which duly elected governors and mayors should be allowed to lead their constituents," Padilla said.

He reiterated the fact that he was at the Wilshire Federal Building in Westwood on Thursday for a briefing with U.S. Northern Command that was delayed due to Noem's news conference, where she was providing an update on immigration enforcement operations and protests in the area.

Padilla explained that he asked to listen to Noem's remarks and was escorted into the room by members of the National Guard and the FBI. He said that in an effort to do his duty to "conduct congressional oversight," he was trying to get answers that he believed local and state officials were not receiving.

Noem was discussing what she called the "burdensome leadership" of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass when Padilla attempted to interrupt her to ask a question.

Padilla said Noem was discussing her belief that federal law enforcement and the U.S. military would "liberate Los Angeles" from the governor and mayor of L.A.

"Last week, when I heard something so blatantly un-American from the Secretary of Homeland Security, a cabinet official, of course, I was compelled both as a Senator and an American to speak up," Padilla said. "But before I could even get out my question, I was physically and aggressively forced out of the room."

Last week, Padilla could be heard yelling, "I'm Sen. Alex Padilla and I have questions for the secretary," before he was forcibly removed from the room by federal agents. A video released by Padilla's office showed the senator being pushed to the ground in a hallway where he was handcuffed.

Padilla appeared to get emotional as he recounted the incident from the 365bet官方网站 floor, saying he repeatedly asked the federal agents where they were taking him and why he was being detained.

"If that is what the administration is willing to do to a United States Senator for having the authority to simply ask a question, imagine what they'll do to any American who dares to speak up," Padilla said.

He encouraged people to continue to peacefully protest and said that uniting together can make a difference.

After her news conference, Noem told reporters that she "wished that [Padilla] would have reached out and identified himself and let us know who he was and that he wanted to talk." Deputy FBI Director Dan Bongino that Padilla was not wearing a security pin at the time of the incident and "physically resisted law enforcement." Padilla has pushed back against those claims and noted that, in addition to identifying himself, he was wearing a polo shirt with a U.S. 365bet官方网站 logo on the chest.