Civil Rights
Oregon's US senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley along with US Representatives Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici now want the US Department of Justice and the Inspector General's office to investigate the federal agents presence in Portland.
They earlier sent a letter to Wolf and Attorney General William Barr condemning the escalation of violent tactics against protesters.
Speaking to Fox News Thursday morning, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Mark Morgan made a distinction, explaining that those wreaking havoc on Portland's streets for six weeks straight "are criminals, those are not protesters."
Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf on Thursday released a timeline detailing how over the past few days officers' personal information has been released online and rioters have assaulted law enforcement with hammers, lasers, slingshots and fireworks. Others have been armed with sledgehammers, tasers and "flaming debris."
Merkley co-signed a letter with Sen. Ron Wyden and Reps. Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici after Donavan La Bella, 26, was shot in the head by federal officers with a less-lethal rubber bullet during a protest on Saturday, July 11. LaBella underwent facial reconstructive surgery after he suffered a skull fracture.
Merkley said he had just concluded a call with Derrick Driscoll, the acting deputy director of the U.S. Marshals Service — part of the Department of Justice — and said he came away "completely infuriated."
He said he refused to answer basic questions about the role of federal officers in Portland.
"What the rules of engagement are, what roles they've been playing on the streets of Portland, who decided what equipment they have or when to use it, they will not answer questions about the level of coordination they've had with Portland Police," Merkley tells KATU News.
He said Deputy Director Derrick Driscoll made clear his officers have full federal authority to protect federal institutions - and to do whatever is needed to accomplish their mission.
Earlier this week, four of Oregon's federal lawmakers demanded answers from U.S. Attorney William Barr and the acting Homeland Security secretary regarding the actions of federal law enforcement agents against demonstrators in downtown Portland in recent weeks, including injuring a protester over the weekend.
On Tuesday, Portland police said groups of people set up barricades on the street, threw glass bottles and pointed laser. Around 4 a.m. Wednesday, federal police used tear gas against protesters. The tear gas was witnessed by some KOIN 6 News staff.
In addition, multiple videos on social media showed federal officers driving an unmarked van downtown, getting out, going up to at least one protester, getting them into the van, then taking off without identifying themselves.
On Tuesday, Portland police said groups of people set up barricades on the street, threw glass bottles and pointed lasers Tuesday night. Around 4 a.m. Wednesday, federal police used tear gas against protesters; the tear gas was witnessed by some KOIN 6 News staff.
The letter, signed by Senator Ron Wyden, Senator Jeff Merkley, Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici, and Congressman Earl Blumenauer, references protester Donovan LaBella, who was shot in the head with crowd control munition.
LaBella is still recovering at the hospital.
The lawmakers demanded to know more about the federal government's response to protests that have roiled Portland nightly for nearly two months. They said they are especially concerned that the Marshals Service and other federal agents working the protests are taking direction from federal officials outside of Oregon.