Attorney General Pam Bondi has launched a full investigation into the Portland Police Bureau following the arrest of conservative journalist Nick Sotor outside an ICE facility in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday night. The incident occurred as Sotor peacefully documented far-left protests and intervened to extinguish an American flag being set ablaze. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon is leading the inquiry into the officers’ actions.

Sotor was detained without clear justification after rescuing the flag from protesters, according to his account. Fox News journalist Bill Melugin, who witnessed the event, described how antifa agitators surrounded Sotor and verbally harassed him before he was arrested. Sotor later told Melugin that he was charged with disorderly conduct but claimed the arrest was an attempt to silence him. He alleged that antifa members attacked him, broke his camera, and forced him to the ground, only for Portland Police to arrest him instead of intervening.

The Department of Homeland Security is reportedly increasing federal presence in Portland, while the Trump administration has ordered “all necessary troops” to address what it calls a “radical left’s reign of terror.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated President Trump aims to end “anarchy” in the city and may revoke federal aid if local authorities fail to act. She accused antifa and leftist groups of violent acts, including breaching ICE facilities, hurling projectiles at officers, and using a guillotine during protests.

Sotor claimed he was later contacted by Bondi’s office, which confirmed the investigation into his arrest. He vowed that the incident would “backfire on them tremendously,” asserting that Portland Police have aligned with violent agitators. Assistant AG Dhillon echoed this sentiment on social media, writing, “Portland: it’s FO time. Buckle up.”

The Portland Police Bureau released a statement emphasizing that arrests are based on observed behavior and not political affiliation. However, Sotor and others have accused the department of complicity in allowing antifa violence to go unchecked. Earlier in the week, another journalist, Katie Daviscourt, was assaulted by an antifa agitator outside the ICE facility, with Portland Police failing to arrest the suspect.

The incident has intensified scrutiny of Portland’s response to protests, with critics arguing that law enforcement has prioritized protecting far-left agitators over safeguarding public order and journalists.