JUST IN: AOC Demands 'Full Investigation' Of Alex Padilla Being Forcibly Removed From DHS Briefing

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We’ve taken the effort to provide this important statement from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez on Substack since social media sites will allow Substack posts but not YouTube posts. We hope this helps to get out AOC’s statement.

Full Transcript is from:

provided by You Tube Transcript Plus, and then formed into paragraph structure. No words altered, time stamps removed, from YouTube CC:

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Press: Congressman, your reaction to Senator Padilla and that altercation with DHS agents:

AOC

I mean, I think we need to see this for what it is. There are two grave and extremely alarming elements to what just happened.

First and foremost, a United States senator who identified himself as such, who sought a question pursuing his constitutional duty and ability to conduct oversight to the cabinet secretary, a question, was assaulted, thrown to the floor, and arrested.

And then secondly, what is also deeply alarming is that the Department of Homeland Security under Secretary Kristi Noem has gone to the public and lied on record, saying that he did not identify himself, when there is video evidence that they are being dishonest with the American people. There must be a retraction. We must have an investigation of what just happened.

This is a deeply alarming escalation in the violence of the Trump administration. They have released chaos and unleashed chaos in the city of Los Angeles by violently raiding and ripping apart peaceful public spaces. And now they're tackling and they are arresting United States sitting members of Congress while going on the record and lying about what happened. This is an out-of-control agency and there must be consequence.

Press: Do you think that this sends a message not only to yourself but other lawmakers who want to go out and be able to ask questions to different secretaries?

AOC: Of course. For an administration that has talked about free speech, the First Amendment, respect for the rule of law, we are seeing that they are threatening judges. They are arresting judges for people who do not rule in the way that they agree with. They have openly talked about punishing Supreme Court justices for not ruling in the way that they want them to rule. They are falsely and egregiously indicting members of Congress on baseless accusations.

They are being incredibly reckless in what they're doing. And this is all coming down not to the facts, not to crime, not to the law, but to political intimidation. And we will not be intimidated. We will not be silenced. If they want to come in and arrest every member of Congress, they can come and get us.

But at some point, the Republican Party and the Senate—the United States Republican Senate—needs to decide what is an impeachable offense. Because at a certain point, it will not be about Democrats and Republicans. They will start going after Republican senators who do not do what they want.

So what kind of environment do we want here in New York? According to Congressman Issa, things have already begun to smooth over between Kristi Noem as well as Mr. Padilla. They've already exchanged phone numbers, and they've already—that charges are not going to be filed whatsoever.

Press: So, can you talk to this already, that basically they start communicating?

AOC: I find it very interesting that the Secretary of Homeland Security somehow is claiming to not recognize or know who the United States Senator for the state of California is, when her express job is to be interacting with us all the time. She knows who I am. She better know who he is, because she's been all up in the city of Los Angeles. And we're supposed to believe that she doesn't know who the two United States senators for the state of California are? No.

Thank you.

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