Feds Use Tear Gas on Thousands of Portland Protesters

Fifteen Congressional representatives on Friday demanded the immediate resignation of Chad Wolf, acting secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, saying he orchestrated "horrific scenes" forcefully breaking up peaceful protests in Portland. Wolf visited Portland last week to meet with the federal police agencies he and President Donald Trump sent, but declined to meet with the media or take their questions.

"Your leadership of this Department has been rife with mismanagement, including inciting xenophobia and recently using federal agents to disrupt lawful, constitutionally protected protests," the representatives' letter states. "In particular, we cannot accept the Department's recent use of unidentified federal agents, in military gear, patrolling the city of Portland, Oregon in unmarked vehicles, nor can we accept recent plans to expand this tactic to other American cities."

Wolf has been in his position for 253 days now, despite being unconfirmed by Congress, Rep. Bonnie Coleman of New Jersey, Oregon Representatives Earl Blumenauer and Suzanne Bonamici wrote, along with 12 other representatives. The law allows unconfirmed cabinet members to serve for only 210 days. The representatives noted the discrepancy in their letter.