After the Department of Homeland Security tried to justify Sen. Alex Padilla’s (D-CA) violent removal from a press conference by falsely claiming that he had “lunged toward” Secretary Krisi Noem, Fox News propagandists chimed in, alleging the senator “ran at” and tried to “bum-rush” the secretary. But video from the event shows Padilla standing calmly across the room from Noem, interrupting her event by asking her a question, as agents begin shoving him away.

Padilla was manhandled, forced to the ground, and ultimately handcuffed by federal agents after interrupting a Noem press conference at a Los Angeles federal building on Thursday. “I’m Sen. Alex Padilla. I have questions for the secretary,” Padilla, whose subcommittee oversees Noem’s department, said as the agents began forcing him from the room. 

Democratic senators and political commentators responded with shock, anger, and revulsion as video of Padilla’s forcible removal circulated. But DHS, rather than apologize, issued a statement claiming Padilla “chose disrespectful political theatre and interrupted a live press conference without identifying himself or having his Senate security pin on as he lunged toward Secretary Noem.” 

In fact, video from the scene shows Padilla did not “lunge” at Noem, instead standing and speaking in a level tone as he began asking his question and then saying, “I am Sen. Alex Padilla,” as federal agents pushed him out of the room.

But Fox’s propagandists ran with DHS’ lies.

“Now Democrat senators are joining the riots,”  Fox host Jesse Watters claimed on his prime-time show, as on-screen text read, “Senator cuffed after charging Noem.”

 “Alex Padilla, the senator from California, got handcuffed inside a federal building this afternoon for lunging at a cabinet secretary,” he continued. “Kristi Noem was in Los Angeles giving a press conference about the riots when the senator barged in and ran at her, yelling and screaming.”

Watters added that Padilla was “lunging at” Noem and “screaming hysterically.” 

The Five co-host Emily Compagno similarly said that “Padilla barged his way into DHS Secretary Kristi Noem's news conference on the LA riots, only to be forcefully removed and handcuffed while on the floor,” adding, “The DHS called it theater. They said he didn't identify himself. He had no senator pin. He forcefully lunged. Would you describe this as a stunt by the senator?”

Co-host Greg Gutfeld responded in part: “Padilla shows why you need order and grown-ups. This is a microcosm. Some guy bursts into a presser shouting, expects to be treated preferentially. He expected his invasion to be allowed. What does that sound like? Their policy with illegal criminals.”

Watters agreed with Gutfeld, claiming that Padilla had “bum-rushed a woman” and that he “seemed like a crazy man impersonating a senator.”

“If this is how this administration responds to a senator with a question, if this is how the Department of Homeland Security responds to a senator with a question, you can only imagine what they’re doing to farmworkers, to cooks, to day laborers, throughout the LA community and throughout California and throughout the country. We will hold this administration accountable,” Padilla told reporters following his release on Thursday.

To which one could add, if this is how DHS and Fox hosts lie about a senator when there’s video disproving their claims, you can only imagine how they’re lying about everyone else.