Spectrum News: Padilla leads Dems in demanding probe into Trump administration amid redistricting push
By Cassie Semyon
Senator Alex Padilla, D-Calif., is asking the Office of the Special Counsel to investigate whether Trump administration political appointees violated the Hatch Act by pushing for redistricting mid-decade in Texas.
“They’re instructing and working with Republican leaders in the Texas Legislature to redraw the map, and the President has said it publicly, for purposes of gaining five more Republican seats. It’s blatant, it’s brazen, and it’s a violation of the Hatch Act, every way I look at it,” said Padilla during an interview in his hideaway office just off the Senate floor.
The Hatch Act bars executive branch officials from using their offices for partisan politics. While the president is exempt since they are the de facto leader of their political party. Padilla, along with fellow California Sen. Adam Schiff and Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., sent the letter this week to the special counsel, citing instances in which they believe the Hatch Act was violated by White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair, Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon and Deputy Assistant Attorney General Michael Gates.
“We’re calling on the Office of Special Counsel to do their due diligence and bring forward actions and accountability,” explained Padilla. “Now, will this administration do their job? We’ll see, but I’m going to do my job in demanding that accountability.”
Spectrum News reached out to the White House for comment on the letter’s accusations, but has not heard back.
With Democrats in the minority, there is little the party can do legislatively to push back on the administration. But Padilla says he remains undeterred when it comes to calling out injustices as he sees them. This week he led a spotlight hearing on “fighting a surge in voter suppression,” which was only attended by Democrats, but highlighted the ongoing fight over redistricting that is playing out across the country.
“To try to squeeze out five additional Republican seats in Texas, they’re saying the quiet part out loud and acting on it,” Padilla said. “They’re trying to tip the scales because they’re afraid of the response of the people in the 2026 election from the agenda that they have been advancing this session in Congress.”
While Padilla is frustrated by the actions of the Republican Party, he’s endorsing the plan that is beginning to formulate out of his home state of California to do the same.
“There’s still time for them to stand down, which is what we all hope will happen. But if Texas does indeed move forward, then I’m not surprised that California and other states, for that matter, will meet fire with fire, because the stakes are just so high,” he reasoned. “I absolutely support the governor legislature looking at all options. But again, all eyes are on Texas. There’s still time for them to stand up.”
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