WASHINGTON, June 12 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) today released the following statement after federal agents assaulted Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) at a press conference in Los Angeles this afternoon:

The assault in California by federal agents against my colleague Sen. Alex Padilla was outrageous, and those responsible must be held accountable.  

Tragically, what happened to Sen. Padilla today is becoming normal behavior for a Trump administration which is moving us toward authoritarianism.  

Trump is attacking the judiciary. He is attacking the media. He is attacking law firms. He is attacking universities. He is attacking immigrants, the poor and workers in every corner of this country.   

And today they handcuffed a senator from the largest state in the country.  

The American people do not like petty tyrants.  We defeated King George in 1776.  We will defeat King Donald.