Republicans Scoff at Democrats’ Alarm After Senator Placed in Handcuffs

“Play stupid games, get stupid prizes,” one congressman said.

Rep. Rich McCormick
Rep. Rich McCormick, a Georgia Republican, shrugged off Democrats’ concerns after Sen. Alex Padilla was placed in handcuffs at a Department of Homeland Security press conference. “Talk about drama,” he said. Francis Chung/POLITICO/AP

Republican lawmakers aren’t concerned that their colleague, California Sen. Alex Padilla, was shoved out of a Los Angeles press conference Thursday and handcuffed by law enforcement while face-down on the ground.

“Play stupid games, get stupid prizes,” Rep. Rich McCormick, a Georgia Republican, told NOTUS when asked about Padilla’s treatment by law enforcement. “He looked very aggressive. I don’t know what he was thinking. It’s a silly way to approach somebody. A guy who has that much power, he should know better.”

“First of all, it’s inappropriate, and secondly, it never makes a difference,” McCormick continued. “All he’s doing is grandstanding.”