Senator Padilla guilty of disobeying police, resisting arrest … and bad acting
California Senator Alex Padilla was recently ejected from a news conference being held by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. Noem was briefing the press on the status of ICE enforcement when Padilla began speaking loudly and started to approach the podium. He was asked to leave by police but resisted first by not obeying a police order (a crime) and then physically resisting their efforts to remove him – essentially committing battery on police officers. (a more serious crime).
Since the much larger Padilla was physically engaging with police like a street thug even after being ejected from the room, three officers were needed to take him down and cuff him. Padilla was temporarily detained and then released when his identity was established.
The incident has again enflamed the hair of the radical left in the Democratic Party and the Fourth Estate. Their hyperbolic spin is designed to convince the American people that we live in a Trump-imposed authoritarian police state portending the end of the American experiment in democracy.
There are several elements of the Padilla event that strongly suggest it was all a staged performance.
- Padilla was dressed in casual clothes.
- He was not wearing his Senate security Identification pin which is recognized by most police – especially the federal officers protecting Noem.
- He was not accompanied by obvious aides, as senators almost always are.
- Neither Padilla nor any aides made his presence as a senator known to anyone prior to or as he arrived. That is virtually unheard of.
- He started talking over Noem while approaching Noem. That is a signal for security to intervene. He immediately resisted.
- There is no reason to believe that police knew who he was.
Everything Padilla did has the markings of a set-up – political performance art. He seemed to do everything possible to conceal his identity and get the response he got – a perfectly appropriate response by police charged with protecting Noem in a political atmosphere steeped in anger and violence.
Several news reports described the incident as Padilla being “manhandled” by federal officers. Hardly. A more apt description was Padilla assaulting officers by disobeying orders and then resisting efforts to remove him from the room. He was fighting them. In fact, it took several officers to finally restrain and cuff him.
The officers are not some sort of Gestapo — as the left portrays. They are long time law enforcement officers whose only interest is to protect the person they are assigned to protect. If there is any culprit in this scenario, it has to be Padillo.
Should Padilla be prosecuted? You may recall Scott Smith, the father of a sexually abused daughter who was ejected and arrested for allegedly speaking up at a school board meeting in Loudoun County, Virginia. He was walked out by police, screaming but not resisting. Nonetheless, Smith was prosecuted by the county district attorney and sentenced to 10 days in jail. He was subsequently pardoned by Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.
If there is equal justice, Padilla should be charged, and let the justice system do its work. That is what would happen if the rule-of-law is applicable in all cases and that, “no man is above the law.” BUT … do not hold your breath. Senators consider themselves above the law — as do virtually every other elected official. And that is how they are usually treated.
At least that has been the case until the Trump administration has taken the approach that if you do the crime, you do the time – even judges and elected officials. The arrests and indictments of Wisconsin Judge Hannah Dugan and New Jersey Congresswoman LaMonica McIver are a good sign that the rule-of-law has meaning again. Like Dugan and McIver, the video evidence suggests that Padilla crossed into a crime – not the worst, but a crime, nonetheless.
Those on the left are shocked by police officers taking down A UNITED STATES SENATOR!!! Perhaps they should be shocked by the senator’s behavior.
Yes! Yes! Yes! I, too, hear all those hysterical cries emanating from left field. They are claiming these are the actions of an authoritarian regime that his crushing American democracy. They have been singing that tune for more than four years – and it has no more appeal today than when they started. It has no more validity today than those other false narratives Democrats and the crony press carried out — Trump’s campaign colluding with Russia … the fraudulent Steele Dossier … Hunter’s laptop was Russian chicanery … and Joe Biden is sharp as a tack.
I do not think that an obvious and stupid political trick is a capital offense, but it would be refreshing to see Padilla be judged by a jury of his peers or an impartial judge (ß oxymoron alert) – and if guilty, spend a couple of nights in the hoosegow. (I bet this commentary gets a lot of whataboutism responses from folks who distract rather than deal with the topic. LOL).
So, there ‘tis.
That shit was cut and dried to discredit Trump. The left will create drama and turn to violence.
Republicans are really big on saying they are the party of law and odor as Horist begins his recent stink bomb dropped on Senator Padilla by stating “Senator Padilla guilty of disobeying police, resisting arrest … and bad acting.” So much for innocent until proven guilty. Fuck that, Horist has Padilla guilty as sin. Or Matt Gaetz. Today, Republicans like Horist are all for doing away with habeas corpus, warrants, police, courts, and even prisons. Now they just send in the Marines to replace police. Or Federalize the Guard to replace police, usurp authorizations, and take over police responsibilities. Due process to Republicans means warrantless break-ins by masked, unidentified, camo’d, military-armed thugs who grab people, and without so much as a “your honor,” send them out of the country to third-world death-camp gulags to die as in get freaking murdered. It’s Scooby-Doo-process for sure meaning it’s a dog’s breakfast.
Let’s be clear: on the left side of the ledger, you have a guy who moved forward to ask some questions after some idiot said: “We are not going away. We are staying here to liberate this city from the socialist and burdensome leadership that this Governor Newsom and this mayor placed on this country and what they have tried to insert into this city. ” Did she actually say the Guard, the Marines were sent “here to liberate this city from it’s duly-elected leadership.” Wow, just wow. And she’s doing it for the country…. Yeah, Republicans fixing California on behalf of a grateful nation. Sure. The gauntlet is thrown, let the uncivil war commence. They couldn’t take California by vote, so here comes the troops to take over. “We are not going away.”
Let’s be clear: on the right side of the ledger, you have the response to a guy asking questions who is wearing a Senatorial emblemed polo under his coat, id’s himself as a Senator, was then forcibly escorted out of the room by FBI and Guard personnel, was supported by his aides, and is manhandled, shoved out of the room, then faceplanted in the next room, zip-tied and hauled off to God knows another room where to protect the snowflake Noem who’s shitting drawers on stage. Optics done he is let loose no doubt with a warning to raise his hand next time…..
Now the author seems knicker-knotted over a Senator he says is “disobeying police.” What police? It was FBI, DHS, and the Guard, I think. Resisting arrest? He was arrested? I think the author lies about arrest to make himself feel better. Padilla was pushed, shoved, manhandled, faceplanted, zip-tied, hauled off, and let go for his unplanned meeting with Noem. They threw the book at McIver for a much smaller scuffle. Weird with a beard. Optics mission accomplished. All that pushing, shoving, faceplanting, zip tying, BUT NO ARREST. Does that not prove innocence beyond a reasonable doubt? At least for reasonable people? Well, not the author. He saw and said: “arrested.” At least the NJ mayor got arrested before they said ooooops.
Why does the author pass on the truth so often? Seems hard to believe he misses the rest of the story, certainly was out there for awhile.
We need an investigation; we need to question the folks in the room, especially the “arresting” ones, the “chaperones,” the aides to find out what really happened on and behind the scenes.
Frank, do you get the sense that we’re being dismissed, or is Larry not reading Reply comments.
That’s what PBP Horist has evolved into, all blow with no appreciation of what is going down around us all in this administration’s ineptitude and weakness.
No King Fay demonstrated where the country is at.
Trump’s birthday parade was all about him and few showed up. That’s a message loud and clear, if he cared to listen.
‘
AC: it was never a discussion, a conversation, so no, I don’t feel dismissed. Nor missed.
So there tis an improvement.
Larry, your are missing the big picture that is the not so subtle shift attempted by the present executive branch. If you don’t see how this administration’s actions have and will continue its jousting with the Constitution. It appears that it is testing the Judicial sand Legislative Branches for power. You do not warrant your self proclaimed status as pundit, acclaimed journalist, author of books containing true facts, and economist visionary.
The Administrative Branch power is constitutionally limited by the powers invested in the other equally power invested two branches. This Executive was given unprecedented legal immunity. No other president in U.S. history has had this president’s Get Out of Jail Card that SCOTUS granted this president. The justices made it open an open ended arrangement. The president is free to flip the immunity card as many times as he thinks is useful.
So, he accepts luxury airliners, foreign investments in his land deals, un-named foreign entities multi million dollar purchases in the president’s personal crypto coin enterprise.
You try to make the political left the bad guys. But you fail in your judgement because of the huge log of guilt by association with your own right wing stuck blindingly in your own eyes.
As my long time statements stand, that regarding politics and all other subjects in debate, my intent has been to seek truth in objective assessment while looking into proven facts that are not tainted by political and biased opinions.
Parts of a story that appear reasonably well fit together into a recognizable objective whole are worth believing
Stories told from a perspective that is obvious in a bias toward the right or left, its clearly not intended has an objective telling of whatever the subject maybe. These stories have a label, conspiracy theories.
A conspiracy is a story that lacks an objective and true context. Articles with obvious intent bias omit a context appropriate into which all the related parts fit reasonably.
Reader’s of PBP writers’ articles should have forewarning that PBP is philosophically conservative and politically right wing. Its staff writers are not reporters of the news. They give their personal perspective dense opinion of current events and often happenings in prior history retold in the light of the writers opinion.
Just so the unsuspecting reader may come with eyes wide open, there is more. Individuals of the right wing persuasion are of a mind that does not appreciate, to say the least, others’ opinions which, in their judgement, do not perfectly align nor reflect, the opinions of those solidly believing the right’s ideology. Politics for those on the right is loaded with more emotion and intolerance of other ideologies. Although, when pinned down and questioned on the elements that define the conservative right wing. The questioner will not be taken seriously, will be threaten and verbally taunted possibly abused. And, it can be objectively stated that the right is angry defensive. They are full of stories that put the left in what the right sees is a bad light.
That not a valid answer or a cogent defense. It shows ignorance of the truth and insecurity with the truth. Still, the right will do what their guy tells them is true. He says “buy my cryptocurrency coin” and the rich ask, “yes, sir, how much”.
T
Watch your self. You might be next. LOL.
Phyllis; going full Mike Lee on either AC or me is not cool at all.
The first amendment should not be tarnished by fake warnings of violence for intimidation purposes.
Ever.
Period.
Your time in the spotlight is waning. Find your rock and slither back under.
On this one, the author ends by his whiney lying lament: “or an impartial judge (ß oxymoron alert)” once again fanning the flames of hatred with the falsehood that the judiciary is biased against “his people.” One can only guess what his use of “beta” is, perhaps a keyboard with ancient Greek? Might have meaning to him as a beta-male :>). Some overlooked facts contrary to the author’s jaded biased non-factual opinion: the SCOTUS is — hard right, selected mostly by Trump. The US Court of Appeals 50/50 by party with over 160 judges. Federal District Courts 60:40 to the democrats, almost 700 judges. Quit lying, quite whining, you have a good shot at any case even IF you are demented enough to believe judges all biased by politics. Another lie that you have no evidence of beyond some cases you don’t like. Me too, right back at ya. The fact of the matter is you should assess why you lose so often in case it is not the bias of judges. Stupid cases maybe? Ineffective counsel? Like 65 failed ones on the 2020; maybe you just can’t take a judicial hint, or your lawyers are telling you they are going to win, 65 lies in a row that you accepted. About that bridge…. Burn me once, shame on you, burn me twice… What do you say for “burn me 65 times?”
Then: “I bet this commentary gets a lot of whataboutism responses from folks who distract rather than deal with the topic” once again blithely reading the minds of those he disagrees with while screaming bloody hell when someone turns the tables on him. And after he weaves his weasel worded around the barn and through the fields screed, he pre-accuses “whataboutism” for responders. Oye. Sigh. Just a set up for his coming undeserved: “I told you so.” But I digress… Back on point.
Fact 1 omitted by Horist: Padilla was being escorted around the building by FBI and Guard members who opened the doors of the presser to let him in and they stood next to him until the scuffle. He said: “They opened the door for me, and they stood next to me while I was listening for the entire time,” is what he told CNN’s Dana Bash. “And then, of course, once I was forcibly removed and handcuffed” they were next to him. Now, Larry can take him to court, but sounds pretty freaking plausible to me. Especially since it is all on tape. Question is why did these guys stand down in the ruckus? Or did they help? What was THEIR plan? Was this the plan all along? How did the author miss it?
Fact 2 left out: Noem spewed that her agents were staying in LA to “liberate this city from the socialist and the burdensome leadership that this governor and this mayor have placed on this country” when Padilla was moved to moved forward asking some questions. He didn’t lunge, Noem lied. He was not unidentified, Noem lied. He identified himself as a Senator once the first fickle finger of fate touched him. Then they pushed his jacket open to reveal his Senate emblem in bright white on his shirt.
His Senate aides were there, the author lies again. It’s their videos being posted, how could the author miss those? It appears that the original FBI and Guard chaperoning Padilla’s entourage, stood mute during the whole affair; they certainly knew he was a Senator. But they have been sequestered and we will need a court or Congress to find out the real truth. And the author never asks: why were they so afraid deep inside a uber secured Federal building? Perhaps they were expecting a mutiny?
As they scuffle with him, semi-violently pushing him out the door, you can clearly see his Senate emblem on upper right breast pocket area (his left) at the very beginning of them pushing him around. Anyone can see it on the aide’s tape. How the scufflers missed it, beyond me. How Noem missed it is weird. I mean she’s testified to the guy in Congress, he’s her boss on the budget, she’s watching it live, he clearly says he’s a Senator, it’s a federal building with all sorts of security, so she’s afraid; really? The embossed shirt emblem is a stylized image of the Senate chamber’s “Eagle and Shield” with “U.S. Senate” written in white and totally visible on Senator Alex Padilla’s navy-blue shirt and widely reported. The author apparently didn’t read all the reports on this or is lying through his teeth. Most of the press is blocked out from the presser as the pushing and shoving begins. Did Noem order a press blackout or was it planned to have press blocked IF police started pushing people around? Sure seems they were preparing for an inside job.
Padilla is Ranking Member of Rules and Administration Committee, Member of Judiciary Committee, Member of Budget Committee, Member of Committee On Environment and Public Works, Member of member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Noem has testified to committees Padilla was on as one of only a hundred Senators in Congress. Senators who basically are her bosses in terms of oversight. Hard to believe the leader of Homeland Security does not know Senators, especially after being in front of them testifying. I always knew everyone above me that had a vote on my budgets. And it was close to the 100 she should know. The author misleads you into thinking this is just an innocent mistake, or worse yet, Padilla inciting violence. Quite the opposite as you see Team Trump militarizing domestic police in State’s they lost the vote in. Pardons right wing felons, creates left wing ones out of thin air. I mean they threw the book at the mayor in NJ only to say, oops, and put the book back on the shelf. Then, in a crowd of dozens, they went after the mouthy black lady. DOJ only investigates the left now. DHS focuses on the left too. Look at the cases, the investigations, they mostly lean left. Makes sense as Trump pardons all those from the right. Law and odor you know.
How can the Secret Service not know the Senate? The FBI — sure, the Guard, no way would they know, course then again, the Guard would’ve known a Muslim terrorist either — not their specialty. And what were those FBI/Guard chaperones doing; did they set up the entire affair? One conclusion the author fears to broach. These poor kids acting out Noem’s tough girl stance will now probably face years in court. Guilty or not, their future in court is pretty much assured. It’s always the pawns that are sacrificed to save a queen. Or King.
Can’t wait for her next presser. Somehow, I see concertina wire protecting the little snowflake.