WHEREAS, The United States was founded on the principal of three co-equal branches of government and a distinct separation of powers with the necessary checks and balances to ensure the inalienable rights enshrined in the Bill of Rights and the United States Constitution are upheld; and

WHEREAS, Beginning on June 6, 2025, in response to widespread immigration raids targeting vulnerable populations, mass protests by members of the public ensued in the City of Los Angeles; and

WHEREAS, In response to these demonstrations, President Donald J. Trump escalated tensions between local law enforcement and protestors by activating the California National Guard without the consent of Governor Gavin Newsom and deploying active duty members of the United States military to suppress public demonstrations against the actions of the federal government; and

WHEREAS, On June 12, 2025, in response to the heightened tensions resulting from President Trump’s intentionally reckless actions, Secretary of the United States Department of Homeland Security Kristi Noem held a press conference in Los Angeles, during the course of which Secretary Noem stated the intent of the federal government to remain in the Los Angeles region in order to “liberate [the] city from the socialists and the burdensome leadership that this Governor and that this Mayor have placed on this country and what they have tried to insert into this city”; and

WHEREAS, During the press conference, United States Senator Alex Padilla, while in the course of his duties as a duly elected representative of the people of the State of California, was apprehended, handcuffed, and forcibly removed by members of the United States Secret Service for attempting to ask a question of Secretary Noem; and

WHEREAS, Numerous members of the United States Congress, the California State Legislature, the media, and the public have condemned this heinous assault on Senator Padilla and have called for an immediate investigation; and

WHEREAS, This unprecedented assault on a sitting United States Senator is contrary to the separation of powers enshrined in the United States Constitution and impedes the ability of the California State Legislature and California Governor to maintain law and order within the state’s jurisdiction; now, therefore, be it