The forceful removal of Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California from a press conference Thursday in Los Angeles is part of a growing number of congressional and local leaders who have been publicly handcuffed, and in some cases federally charged, under the second Trump administration.

Los Angeles

A series of recent incidents has seen multiple U.S. officials, including Democratic Senator Alex Padilla of California, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver, and Milwaukee Judge Hannah Dugan, either removed from events, arrested, or charged under the current administration. While some charges have been dropped, others remain pending, with officials like McIver alleging political motivation behind the prosecutions. 

Additionally, the case of Kilmar Obrego-Garcia, who was mistakenly deported and later returned to the U.S. to face federal charges, highlights ongoing legal battles involving both criminal and civil proceedings. The pattern of enforcement actions against public officials has drawn scrutiny and political criticism.

Growing number of officials face removal, charges, arrests

The forceful removal of Democratic California Senator Alex Padilla from a press conference Thursday is part of a growing number of congressional and local leaders who have been publicly handcuffed and in some cases federally charged under the first five months of the second Trump administration. Before the incident with Senator Padilla, Democratic Congresswoman LaMonica McIver and Newark, New Jersey Mayor Ross Baraka were arrested following a clash last month at an ICE detention center. Officials later dropped the charges against Baraka, but not McIver. And Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan was handcuffed and charged for allegedly helping a man evade immigration officials at her courthouse. CBS News Justice Correspondent Scott McFarlane joins us now. Scott, good to see you. So what have you found so far in these actions against officials under the Trump administration? There really is a pattern here forming. There are now four public officials who either have been handcuffed, detained or arrested in the past few weeks, one of whom is going to go back to court in the coming days. Let's start with LaMonica McIver. The New Jersey Democrat was arrested May 9th, accused of impeding federal immigration agents at the Delaney-Newark, New Jersey, immigration facility. She's facing a felony criminal charge. She's facing the prospect of several years in prison if convicted. She has decried this criminal charge as politically motivated and inappropriate and not fitting for what actually happened May 9th. She'll appear for an arraignment on the federal charge June 25th, but she's just one. The mayor of Newark, New Jersey, was arrested that same day at that same place. His case has been dismissed. There's Milwaukee local Judge Hannah Dugan, also facing a federal criminal charge, accused of rerouting a criminal defendant away from immigration agents who were outside her courtroom earlier this year. And then there's the matter of Senator Alex Padilla, handcuffed, not detained, not arrested. But all of this is a pattern the Trump administration is taking some political heat for. Scott, you're also monitoring a hearing today where Kilmar Obrego-Garcia, the man who was wrongly deported to El Salvador in March before being returned to the U.S. to face federal charges. What happened there? This is the criminal case against Obrego-Garcia, who the administration acknowledges was mistakenly deported from Maryland to El Salvador March 15th. He's charged by the Department of Justice with allegedly trafficking, smuggling people across the country. He formally pleaded not guilty at an arraignment hearing in Nashville, Tennessee, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee. It did not come to a decision today as to whether he will remain detained until trial in that case, but he will remain detained in a lockup until future proceedings in this case. There's also the separate matter, where in Maryland his representatives are suing the Trump administration for allegedly knowingly defying a court order to return Obrego-Garcia to the United States months ago. So, two different court battles involving Kilmar Obrego-Garcia. Two different court battles, and we know you're staying on top of it. Scott McFarlane, thank you for that.

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