US Watchdog to Probe Use of Force in Portland; Federal Agents to Seattle on Standby
The U.S. Justice Department announced on Thursday it would investigate the use of force by federal agents against protesters in Portland, Oregon, following another night of unrest in which the city’s mayor was…
The U.S. Justice Department announced on Thursday it would investigate the use of force by federal agents against protesters in Portland, Oregon, following another night of unrest in which the city’s mayor was tear-gassed.
The investigations, which follow an uproar over the deployment of federal border patrol officers to Portland against the wishes of local officials, come as the Trump administration said it was sending a similar contingent to Seattle.
Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz said his office will investigate allegations federal agents used excessive force against peaceful protesters in Portland and a separate review of actions taken against protesters in Washington, D.C.’s Lafayette Square near the White House on June 1.
Democratic lawmakers have asked for such an investigation over concerns Attorney General William Barr and acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf were using federal agents to “suppress First Amendment protected activities.” The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the right to assemble peacefully.
The White House did not immediately comment on the announcement.
The Federal Protective Service, which is in charge of protecting federal buildings and monuments, said agents from the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol would be on standby in Seattle to protect federal property if needed.
“The CBP team will be on standby in the area, should they be required. FPS requests this kind of assistance multiple times a year at our over 9,000 facilities across the country,” FPS said in a statement.
Seattle police on July 1 dismantled an “autonomous zone” that protesters maintained for weeks around a city police station during protests against racial injustice sparked by the death of George Floyd in police custody in Minneapolis on May 25. President Donald Trump criticized Democratic officials in Seattle and Washington State for failing to clear the area earlier.