State Representative Mike Nearman (R-Independence) announced today that he is calling on President Donald Trump to close the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse for the Oregon District located in Portland, and offering to have its operations moved entirely to the City of Dallas, Oregon and a new courthouse constructed there, a little over an hour away from its current location.

Nearman said, "While this will certainly be inconvenient for many in Portland who have business at the courthouse, the City of Portland has demonstrated over the last two months that it is both unwilling and unable to provide even the most basic security for the facility."

Many Democratic legislative leaders defended the rioters in a letter to the US Attorney General William Barr, criticizing the activity of federal law enforcement, as they have defended federal property in Portland.

The 16 story courthouse, completed in 1997 at a cost of $129 million, has been under daily siege by rioters for two months, sustaining an unknown amount of damage.


--Staff Reports

Post Date: 2020-07-29 07:11:09

Last Update: 2020-07-28 22:13:48