00:00Our CNN security correspondent, Josh Campbell, who was an FBI agent, he said just from a law enforcement perspective, Secretary Noem's security acted appropriately at the beginning, not when you were in the hallway being handcuffed, but at the beginning, trying to keep you away or get you out of the room because you interrupted her press conference.
00:24What do you think of that?
00:25If that's how they treat a senator trying to ask a question, here's one of my big takeaways, then imagine not what they can do, what they are doing to so many people without titles.
00:39But they might not have known. I know you said pretty early, I'm a senator, but.
00:43I was escorted into that room by a National Guardsman and an FBI agent.
00:48Look, the whole Los Angeles press corps, this is Los Angeles, this is my hometown.
00:52They know who I was.
00:53And what does it say about the secretary to not know who the senator from California is, the ranking member of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration?
01:03You were escorted into the room by law enforcement.
01:05Absolutely.
01:06I was escorted during my entire time in that building.
01:10From showing up in the building, going through security screening, escorted by an FBI agent and National Guards member to the conference room where I was awaiting a briefing.
01:19They're the ones I requested.
01:21Well, if we're waiting, can we go listen in at the press conference?
01:23They escorted me over to the press conference.
01:25They opened the door for me and they stood next to me while I was listening for the entire time.
01:29And then, of course, once I was forced to be removed and handcuffed.
01:33Several of your fellow Democrats say that Secretary Noem should resign.
01:38Is that where you are?
01:39Look, that's maybe not my focus right now, but I do think there's some serious questions.
01:45How does the Cabinet Secretary not know the senator from California when she steps foot into Los Angeles?
01:51She came through the Senate for confirmation at one point.
01:55And certainly, how does the Secretary of Homeland Security not know how to de-escalate a situation?
02:01It's because she can't or because they don't want to.
02:03And it sets the tone.
02:05Donald Trump and Secretary Noem have set the tone for the Department of Homeland Security
02:09and the entire administration in terms of escalation and extreme enforcement actions.
02:16One last question.
02:17Your Democratic colleague, Senator Brian Schatz, he was defending your actions on the Senate floor.
02:22It was a pretty emotional speech.
02:24He said the way you were treated is something we see in dictatorships,
02:28that in a democracy, you are allowed to be disrespectful and disruptive.
02:32I know you said that that was kind of an organic moment,
02:35but do you think more Democrats should be, in his words, disrespectful and disruptive?
02:40I wasn't trying to be disrespectful or disruptive, and I don't think I was.
02:43I was simply asking a question, just as the members of the press corps ask questions,
02:49members of the Congress, members of the Senate ask questions to do our job
Be the first to comment