Padilla claims Noem clash wasn’t planned stunt: ‘rhetoric compelled me’

California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla insisted Saturday that he didn’t pre-plan his heckling of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles — claiming that the stunt that got him handcuffed was a spur of the moment attempt at congressional oversight.

Padilla argued in an interview with MSNBC hosts Eugene Daniels and Jonathan Capehart that Noem’s “rhetoric compelled” him to approach her lectern at a press conference and interrupt.

Padilla was removed from the June 12 event after he pushed against law enforcement officers who blocked him and shouted, “I’m Senator Alex Padilla! I have questions for the secretary!”

He appeared on MSNBC to respond to Vice President JD Vance, who last week referred to him as “Jose” Padilla and accused him of “pure political theater” in his protest of Trump administration immigration enforcement policies.

The VP’s office explained the first-name error by saying Vance “must have mixed up two people who have broken the law.”

“He knows my name,” Padilla griped to MSNBC.

“Sadly, it’s just an indicator of how petty and unserious this administration is.”

Padilla claimed that he was merely attempting to exercise his congressional duties during his confrontation with Noem.

“Part of our job is oversight and accountability — exactly what this administration does not want, and so they will try to throw any hurdle, any roadblock, to keep us from our oversight and accountability role. That’s all I was doing, right?” the Democrat said

“That press conference, as you know, I did not barge in. I was escorted in. I did not lunge at the secretary… I had the audacity of trying to ask a question,” he said.

“I heard there was this press conference, asked to join, they opened the door for me and I sat quietly on the side until the rhetoric compelled me to speak up — not just as a senator, but as an American,” Padilla added.

“Just the notion that they’re suggesting that it’s their job to liberate Los Angeles from our duly elected mayor and governor. It is too much.”

The previously little-known senator was appointed to his position in 2021 by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-Calif.) to fill the vacancy created by Kamala Harris becoming vice president. He was elected to a full six-year term in 2022.