Martin Rascon of San Bernardino gave his first public statements about the Aug. 16 shooting at his family by federal agents in front of a panel of Democratic senators and representatives public forum in Washington D.C. yesterday.

Rascon was in his brother-in-laws' pick up truck, with his father-in-law Francisco Longoria, when federal agents surrounded the truck, smashed a window, and fired shots. 

"It felt like we were about to be attacked for no apparent reason, by no law enforcement that was legit. It just seemed like masked individuals. Once they had broken the windows and my father-in-law bravely drove away, and the shots fired into the vehicle, I just thought that one of us would have been killed. I am thankful that we were all OK. And I'm sorry for the victims (of federal shootings) who didn't survive," Rascon said.

The forum was hosted by Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach), the top Democrat of the House Oversight Committee, and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations. 

Also speaking were two brothers of Renee Good, who was shot and killed by ICE agents last month, and Marimar Martinez of Chicago and Aliya Rahman of Minneapolis, both victims of federal attacks. 

The Department of Homeland Security said that the stop was targeted, and that Longoria drove directly at the officers, hitting and injuring two of them. "In response to this violent act, a CBP officer was forced to discharge his firearm in self-defense," the DHS wrote.

Rascon, a forklift operator with a commercial driving license and a dental assisting certification, said that he was trying to sleep in when Longoria took him on an errand with Rascon's brother-in-law, Jonathan. Rascon was sitting in the back, on the passenger side. When they were two minutes away from returning home, two unmarked trucks stopped their car. Rascon, who was on his phone, thought at first that there was a traffic jam. 

"To my surprise, I was instead met with four men, with four men in face masks, sunglasses and baseball caps and guns drawn pointing straight at us, walking towards our car. These four men then tried forcing their way into our car when pulling on the handles, pounding on the windows and yelling at us to roll down the windows, all while failing to answer our repeated request for their identification and what they wanted. I did not know who these men were. They were refusing to identify themselves. The only thing I felt I could do, I could control was capturing this event by recording it on my cell phone," said Rascon. 

Longoria drove away through a clear path, and an agent fired shots, Rascon said.

"I will never forget the fear and having to quickly duck my head as the shots were fired at the car, any one of those bullets could have killed me or two people that I loved," said Rascon.

After making it home safe, the family called 911. Responding officers allowed the federal agents who shot at them to entire their home, Rascon said. They were there for three hours, but did not identify who they were looking for. Rascon said the agents incorrectly identified him as the driver, and denied having taken shots.

After the officers left, two federal agents came to the house. The Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) officer asked, "Is he here?" but did not identify who "he" was, Rascon said. When told that the family was waiting for the FBI, the agent said, "For all intents and purposes, we are the FBI," Rascon said.

Twenty HSI and ICE agents gathered in front of the home, along with 30 police officers. They shut down the street. 

Two weeks later, at 4 a.m., armed men entered their San Bernardino home with night vision goggles and bright green laser beams. They broke open the front door, and pointed their rifle at Rascon's pregnant wife. They took Longoria, and charged him with assault of a federal officer. He was held in immigration custody for three months. The charge was dropped at its first hearing in front of a judge.

"Months later, Francisco was released on bond and able to witness the birth of his first grandchild, my daughter. Yet our fight for justice is not over. We will carry this incident with us forever," said Rascon. 

Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands), who represents Rascon, called for a full investigation the day after the shooting. "It is shocking and inexcusable for immigration authorities to open fire on unarmed civilians," Aguilar wrote. On Jan. 28, Aguilar called for Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem's impeachment.

Attorneys for The Justice Team, a lawyers' group that represents Longoria and Rascon, called for an investigation immediately following the shooting.

Watch his full testimony here.

Christopher Damien, a USA Today reporter, published leaked internal documents from the Riverside Sheriff's Department that identified the reason for an inmate's death. A video and internal documents both show that jail staff knew Jamall Brown was diabetic, but did not give him insulin. The sheriff's department officially said that Brown denied the medication. 

Damien had reported on deaths in Riverside jails for years, originally for the USA Today affiliate The Desert Sun. While he was working there on a fellowship with the New York Times, he requested videos and internal reports for multiple jail deaths. In December, with the help of the New York Times, Damien sued the county for failing to provide the requested public documents. The case is ongoing, but former and current sheriff's employees leaked the documents to Damien.

The Sheriff's Department did not respond to detailed questions sent by Damien.

Damien spent time with Brown's father. Read his reporting here: He died in a jail cell, pleading for help. No one told his father why.

The Senate passed Sen. Sabrina Cervantes' bill that would restrict the inspection of California's voting system by the federal government without a federal court order. It would take effect as soon as signed by the governor. 

"Just earlier this month, the New York Times released an interview they did with the President in which he says that he regrets not ordering the National Guard to seize voting machines in swing states in the days after the 2020 election. The President is already telling us what his plans very well could be for the midterms elections that are taking place this year," Cervantes, the chair of the Senate Elections Committee, said on the floor.

Sen. Steven Choi (R-Irvine) argued against the bill, saying that the federal government should do whatever they can to inspect elections. 

"The author's statement reports that President Trump has made false statements regarding our voting machines. Would it not make sense for the state to partner with the federal government to ensure accurate voting machines?" Choi asked.

The Assembly passed a bill Jan. 26 that would allow seniors over the age of 80 to be excused from jury duty without proof of medical condition. The bill passed with 73 votes in favor, one no vote, and six members not voting. The IE's assembly members were unanimous in their support. 

The Assembly passed a bill on Jan. 29 that would increase penalties for domestic violence offenders. If enacted, the bill would increase the fine for domestic violence convicts on their second conviction from $6,000 to $10,000, and could increase their time in jail by one year. The bill passed with 57 votes in favor, and with 23 assembly members not voting. Assms. Robert Garcia (D-Rancho Cucamonga), Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley) did not vote, the remaining IE assembly members all voted in favor.

The Assembly passed Assm. Corey Jackson (D-Moreno Valley)'s bill that would remove the high school degree requirement to become a peer support specialist in Medi-Cal if enacted. The bill passed the Assembly Jan. 26 with 73 ayes and seven assembly members not voting. Assms. Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) and Leticia Castillo (R-Corona) did not vote.

The Assembly passed a bill that would enhance legal protections for incarcerated people experiencing sexual assault on Jan. 29. If enacted, it would pause the statute of limitations while the person remains incarcerated. It also would prohibit a state employee who has sexually abused an incarcerated person or ward of the state from being employed by their department. It passed with 75 ayes and five assembly members not voting. IE assembly members were unanimous in support.

Assm. Natasha Johnson (R-Lake Elsinore) introduced the first bill of her legislative career on Jan. 26. The bill would allow requests to police to remove trespassers to last for three years instead of one for trespass requests related to a fire hazard, the owner's absence or the property's closure to the public. It would also remove the requirement for such requests to be notarized.

"As a former mayor and council member for Lake Elsinore, I've seen firsthand how administrative red tape can hinder public safety," Johnson said in a statement.

Corrections: Charles Schumer of New York is Senate minority leader, not House minority leader as reported last week, and Blythe is on the border of Arizona, not Nevada.

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