Inside a cell phone repair shop on Van Nuys Boulevard, Juan Reynoso watched the video playback of what happened to Alex Padilla on Thursday. It wasn’t pretty. “Oh my God,” he said slowly and softly, his mouth agape as the stream played out on the monitor in front of him.

Bay Area Republican strategist Matt Shupe described Padilla’s attempt to abruptly question Noem “pure political theatrics.”

Sen. Alex Padilla’s (D-CA) takedown by federal law enforcement on Thursday is the focus of the latest fundraising pitches from Democrats, including the national party, lawmakers, and left-leaning political action committees.

Noem was in L.A. to address the ongoing protests against President Donald Trump's immigration policies. Federal agents handcuffed Padilla after his removal.

Rep. Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) and other House Democrats asked House Oversight Committee chair James Comer (R-Ky.) in a letter Friday “to demand sworn testimony” from Noem, by subpoena if necessary, about the “violent detention” of Padilla.