The internal watchdog at the Department of Justice will be reviewing the conduct of federal law enforcement officers during recent protests in Portland, Oregon, and Washington, D.C.
DOJ Inspector General Michael Horowitz announced on Thursday that his office is “initiating a review to examine the DOJ’s and its law enforcement components’ roles and responsibilities in responding to protest activity and civil unrest” in the cities.
The review, which was prompted after Democratic leaders called for an investigation, will include “examining the training and instruction that was provided to the DOJ law enforcement personnel; compliance with applicable identification requirements, rules of engagement, and legal authorities; and adherence to DOJ policies regarding the use of less-lethal munitions, chemical agents, and other uses of force.”
President Trump deployed federal law enforcement officers to Portland, Oregon, last week amid violent clashes between protesters and local officers. The arrival of the federal agents spurred demonstrations from hundreds of additional protesters. As violence in other cities has continued to spike, the president announced on Wednesday his plan to deploy agents from the FBI, U.S. Marshals Service, and other agencies to partner with local agencies in Chicago and Kansas City.
The inspector general, who will be coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security, will also be reviewing the use of force by federal officers who cleared out Lafayette Park outside of the White House in June. After the protesters were removed, Trump walked from the White House to St. John’s Episcopal Church, which had been set on fire a day before. Law enforcement officers used chemical agents to disperse the crowd.
