PRESS RELEASE: Oregon Republican Party Condemns Arrest of Journalist Nick Sortor and Calls for Unified Leadership to Restore Order in Portland

The Oregon Republican Party condemns the arrest of independent journalist Nick Sortor in Portland last night. Although Mr. Sortor has since been released, the irony that he was taken into custody while aggressive demonstrators are allowed to attack journalists and wreak nightly havoc with impunity, highlights how far Oregon's largest city has fallen.

Rather than focusing on combating violent crime, drug trafficking, carjackings, vandalism, and rioting, police arrested an independent journalist inconveniently making it more difficult to continue the lie that Portland is a peaceful city. Arresting journalists is an affront to democracy typically reserved for the worst banana republics and dictatorships. It's sad but not shocking to see the radical left leaders in Portland decide to join that club.

We support President Donald J. Trump and Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon in their efforts to spotlight Oregon's plight and to intervene. President Trump and U.S. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth's deployment of federal resources-including the National Guard-is a necessary step in reasserting the rule of law over anarchy.

To the leaders of Portland and of Oregon: Partner with our national leaders in the effort to restore peace. Stand with law-abiding citizens. Stop prioritizing the demands of a chaotic, extremist fringe that terrorizes neighborhoods and intimidates voices of truth. Oregonians deserve better.

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