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Joe Biden says federal officers are using 'egregious tactics' in Portland


Former Vice President Joe Biden, participates in a Democratic presidential primary debate at CNN Studios in Washington, Sunday, March 15, 2020. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Former Vice President Joe Biden, participates in a Democratic presidential primary debate at CNN Studios in Washington, Sunday, March 15, 2020. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
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Presumptive democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden released a statement on federal officers’ ongoing presence in Portland.

President Donald Trump sent federal law enforcement to Portland to "quell" demonstrations in the city, and local elected leaders have since asked them to leave.

In a statement, Biden wrote:

"We have a president who is determined to sow chaos and division. To make matters worse instead of better. We all remember the appalling scenes in front of the White House, when peaceful protestors were gassed to make way for a Trump photo op. Now Homeland Security agents — without a clearly defined mandate or authority — are ranging far from federal property, stripped of badges and insignia and identifying markings, to detain people. They are brutally attacking peaceful protestors, including a U.S. Navy veteran."

"Of course the U.S. government has the right and duty to protect federal property. The Obama-Biden administration protected federal property across the country without resorting to these egregious tactics — and without trying to stoke the fires of division in this country. We need a president who will bring us together instead of tear us apart, calm instead of inflame, and enforce the law faithfully rather than put his political interests first."

Meanwhile, department of Homeland Security officials defended federal officers' ongoing presence in Portland on Tuesday.

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf said agents are there for two reasons: violent criminal activity, and the lack of action by Portland city officials and law enforcement.

“I’m ready to pull my officers out of there if the violence stops,” Wolf said.

KATU News has reached out to Mayor Wheeler following the press conference on Tuesday. He says he has made his feelings known that federal agents have made tensions worse during the protests.

“Federally-directed intervention is uninvited, untrained, and unwelcome," Wheeler said. "The Acting Secretary knows we feel that way, but we're happy to tell him again. The violence was being contained and started to de-escalate before they arrived. They intervened and escalated tensions to new levels.”

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