Oregon — Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield announced that the Oregon Department of Justice is opening a formal investigation into a Portland incident in which two people were shot and injured during an encounter with federal agents.
The DOJ announcement follows an earlier statement from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which said the two individuals wounded in the shooting were involved in what DHS described as a gang-related enforcement stop. DHS stated that federal agents were conducting a targeted operation when the encounter occurred.
Rayfield said the Oregon Department of Justice will conduct its own review of the incident.
“We have been clear about our concerns with excessive use of force by federal agents in Portland and nationally,” Rayfield said. “We have also been clear about our intent to investigate circumstances involving federal agents to ensure they are accountable to acting within the scope of their official duties.”
According to the DOJ, the investigation will examine whether any federal officer acted outside the scope of lawful authority. The review will include witness interviews, analysis of video evidence, and examination of other relevant materials. If evidence of criminal conduct is identified, cases may be referred to the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office for possible prosecution.
The investigation also follows a November letter sent by Rayfield alongside several county district attorneys, including those from Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties. The letter raised concerns about what the prosecutors described as a pattern of excessive force by federal officers operating in Oregon.
That correspondence cited multiple prior incidents involving federal law enforcement actions that allegedly endangered residents and bystanders, and it called on federal agencies to improve training, investigate excessive-force complaints, and cooperate with state oversight.
Rayfield said the decision to open the investigation reflects the state’s responsibility to review incidents involving potential harm to Oregonians, regardless of the law enforcement agency involved.
No timeline has been announced for completion of the investigation. The Oregon Department of Justice said additional information will be released as the review proceeds. Federal authorities have not yet released public statement addressing the AGs announcement.
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How do we trust when he can’t stay in his own lane? Remember he is the one who spent 3.1 million tax dollars to sue Trump admin 52 times in 2025!
Do we want 3 more years of this? Lets get that recall filed