Feds Sending Tactical Team to Seattle, Expanding Presence Beyond Portland

[Eugene]

Source: New York Times

Feds Sending Tactical Team to Seattle, Expanding Presence Beyond Portland

After outrage over the presence of federal agents in Portland, Ore., the Trump administration is sending a team to Seattle. Officials say they will be on standby.

By Zolan Kanno-Youngs, Adam Goldman and Mike Baker
July 23, 2020
Updated 8:18 p.m. ET

The Trump administration, which has pledged to use the full force of the government to protect federal property, expanded that effort on Thursday by sending a team of tactical border officers to stand by for duty in Seattle.

The Special Response Team being deployed is similar to the tactical teams currently operating in Portland, Ore., where local officials have vehemently objected to their efforts to subdue street protests. Seattle officials have also said they do not want federal agents sent to target protesters.

Agents from the Special Response Team, operated under U.S. Customs and Border Protection, are typically deployed for intense law enforcement operations, similar to the agency’s BORTAC group that has operated in Portland.

“The C.B.P. team will be on standby in the area, should they be required,” the Federal Protective Service said in a statement about the Seattle effort.

A spokesman for the agency, who requested anonymity to speak about the operation, said the border officers were sent to back up the Federal Protective Service officers charged with protecting federal buildings, and would only be used if protests expected this weekend escalate out of control.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/23/us/seattle-federal-agents-police.html

[montanacowboy]

1. It was only a matter of time

before they sent the goons north. Great, just what we need here.

[Crunchy Frog]

2. He's trying to trigger a civil war.

[RANDYWILDMAN]

3. With dirty Mercenaries to boot

You think Eric Prince is somehow making money of this deal....

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

4. To guard what?

The Federal building is a skyscraper close to several downtown businesses. It has more square feet but a smaller footprint than Portland's.

The Federal Court Building on the other hand takes up a whole city block between Stewart Street, Virginia Street, 7th & 8th Avenues.

Both are near some pretty busy streets.

So far most of the demonstrations have not been directed at the Feds so I'm trying to understand the legal justification here.

[Renew Deal]

5. It's all for show

Trump is trying to incite something to use for his campaigns. People have mostly been off the streets the last few weeks. They should keep it that way unless there is a reason to be there. Don't give him the optics.