'Of all people!' Senator reveals unlikely ally who chased down feds in scuffle

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-CA) opened up about what went down on Thursday in a podcast for The Bulwark — and the incredibly unlikely person who came to his rescue when federal agents tackled and handcuffed him after he tried to ask a question of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

Specifically, he told Adrian Carrasquillo, longtime Trumpworld strategist, lobbyist, and Department of Homeland Security adviser Corey Lewandowski helped him get out of the situation.

“Of all people, Corey Lewandowski,” said Padilla. “He’s the one trying to rein in the agents, telling them to stop, to release me, to remove the handcuffs, offering me a cup of coffee.”

That whole situation, he said, was “one of the most surreal things that’s ever happened in my life.”

Padilla also aimed at some of his vocal critics, like sports commentator Stephen A. Smith, who accused him of deliberately trying to instigate a scene. The Trump administration, he said, is “very evasive."

"They refuse to share. They refuse to commit ... I thought maybe this is an opportunity to ask a question directly. I’m doing my job, and this is how they react.”

The White House, for its part, said that Padilla, who wanted answers on the federalization and deployment of the National Guard to Los Angeles to put down anti-deportation protests, had been disruptive and failed to identify himself as a U.S. senator. But this is not true, as he can be heard on video identifying himself.

All of this comes as similar protests to Los Angeles erupt around the country and as America prepares for the much bigger anti-Trump "No Kings" demonstrations set to take place in over 2,000 cities around the country.