MORGANTOWN — The Dominion Post this week asked West Virginia’s two U.S. Senators and 1st District Congressman David McKinley, their thoughts on President Trump send Department of Homeland Security task force agents to Portland, Ore., to protect federal property under siege by protesters.
A bit of background on the situation, first, from various news media reports.
The protests that erupted in Portland following the killing of George Floyd turned violent and destructive there as they did in other cites. Trump’s stated purpose in deploying the agents was to help restore order and protect federal property.
The federal officers come from several agencies including the US Marshals Service and the border patrol. They are based at a federal courthouse currently surrounded by and damaged by protesters. Portland’s Mayor, Ted Wheeler, has ordered his city police to back down and doesn’t want the feds there, either. He was inadvertently tear-gassed by the feds Wednesday night while addressing the protesters outside the courthouse – protesters who were booing and jeering him for his handling of the protests.
The day after Wheeler was gassed, the Justice Department’s Office of the Inspector General opened an investigation into allegations that the agents have improperly used force.
Some say the agents are arresting people without cause and abusing protesters and observers. Others say protesters have been assaulting agents.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said, “I’m very concerned about what I see in cities like Portland and other places. People have the right to protest. People have the right to have their voices heard,
but they don’t have the right to destroy property, whether its private or federally owned property.”
“What I would like to see is the state and local [authorities] take hold of the situation better,” she said. “If you let it morph into what Seattle did then you end up with great destruction of private property, homes. I think people really crave security and I think what’s we’re trying to do.”
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., said, “I think federal troops should always be the last resort.”
State and local officials are responsible for protecting the citizens. The National Guard is also available.
“To bring federal troops in is almost like declaring martial law. I think we’ve overstepped that boundary. I don’t think that’s appropriate right now.
“No one’s allowed to destroy property,” he said, “No one’s allowed to pillage as they’ve been doing. That has to be stopped.” But it should be a local matter unless the governor decides they lack the means or manpower, and then the governor should ask for help. It shouldn’t be imposed from D.C. That steps on state’s rights.
McKinley, R-W.Va., said “It appears like there is chaos. It’s my understanding that there is a provision under Homeland Security to protect federal buildings. If that is our mission, to protect federal buildings, yes I would be OK with that. If they go beyond that to riot control or something like that, then I’ve got to question under what authority they can do that.”
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