Oregon State Police Now ‘Federally Deputized,’ Giving US Attorney Power To Prosecute Rioters Even If DA Won’t https://t.co/0suiB6yw8v pic.twitter.com/Y3wJCIuwNF
— The Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) September 4, 2020
Oregon State Police have sent a detachment of officers to Portland to quell civil unrest there that has been raging nightly, for more than four months.
The officers have been deputized as federal agents. The designation allows suspects arrested by them to be charged in federal court, under federal statutes rather than local or state laws.
This means state troopers can now crack down on protestors in Portland knowing they’ll likely face harsher punishment from the US Attorney’s Office rather than the local DA.
— Deborah Bloom (@deborahebloom) September 1, 2020
The OSP has been critical in the past of local prosecutors who have been, in their eyes, overly lenient with individuals suspected of committing even serious crimes, such as arson and assault.
The move seems to allow the Trump administration to bring the full force and weight of the federal government to bear on the riots while also keeping federal boots off the ground and the issue a local one for now.
“OSP is not criticizing any officials and we respect the authority of the District Attorney, but to meet the Governor’s charge of bringing violence to an end we will use all lawful methods at our disposal,” an OSP department spokesperson said.