Republicans continued to chastise Padilla, using words like "launch," "lunge" and "bum rush" to describe Padilla's behavior as he began to try to pose a question to Noem.

"If they can handcuff a U.S. Senator for asking a question, imagine what they will do to you," the California governor says in a tweet.

WASHINGTON (AP) — When videos first rocketed around the Internet Thursday afternoon showing security officers forcibly removing Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla from a press conference with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in California, senators in both parties were already gathered together for a long series of votes.

The unprecedented act of disrespecting and roughing up a U.S. senator occurred at the Westwood federal building during a Noem news conference Thursday. Padilla, a Democrat, was standing behind reporters when the secretary said federal agents would continue to conduct immigration raids in Los Angeles indefinitely.

She never misses an opportunity to exalt and champion him in addition to vehemently defending his actions ... Trump's reaction to Noem's puppy-killing scandal proved he has her back as long ...

The chaotic scene of federal agents forcibly taking a sitting U.S. senator to the ground Thursday sent shockwaves throughout the political world.