This archive report was first published on 23 December 2021.
On Inauguration Day in January, a peaceful protest took place in Portland, with around 200 people gathered, including those who displayed signs with messages like 'We are ungovernable.'
However, local and federal law enforcement records revealed that about half a dozen federal agents were present, with some of them engaging in surveillance. They planned to follow protesters who engaged in property crimes or violence, even though the protest was taking place far from federal properties downtown.
Agents singled out and tracked several individuals who had broken windows, trailing them for several blocks until local law enforcement agents detained them. Four agents testified before a local grand jury, with one of them stating that the federal officers had been wearing black apparel, suggesting they were attempting to disguise themselves as protesters.
Prosecutors obtained indictments for six people on riot and criminal mischief charges. The deployment of surveillance teams has raised concerns about the potential violation of First Amendment rights and the use of such operations.
Mike German, a former FBI special agent, emphasized that surveillance operations should be used only when there is evidence of a serious crime and should be tailored to focus on obtaining the necessary evidence.
“The FBI should focus its resources on groups engaged in deadly violence, not vandals,” he said.
