Bondi Launches Federal Probe Into Portland Police Over Arrest of Conservative Journalist Nick Sortor

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi has ordered a federal investigation into the Portland Police Bureau (PPB) following the arrest of conservative journalist and influencer Nick Sortor, an incident that has once again spotlighted the city’s pattern of political bias and lawlessness.

Sortor, a frequent critic of left-wing extremism and chronicler of immigration enforcement issues, was arrested Thursday night outside Portland’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility. Police charged him with second-degree disorderly conduct, claiming he interfered during ongoing protests.

According to KOIN News, Sortor said he was attacked by agitators and had his camera smashed before police detained him—an account that has fueled outrage among conservatives who see his arrest as politically motivated.

The following morning, Sortor announced on social media that Attorney General Bondi had ordered a federal review of the incident. The Justice Department later confirmed the inquiry, with White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt calling it “part of a troubling trend in Portland.”

“This incident is part of a troubling trend in Portland where left-wing mobs believe they get to decide who can visit and live in their city,” Leavitt said during Friday’s press briefing. “It is not their city; it is the American people’s city, and President Trump is going to restore that.”

Civil Rights Division Cites “Viewpoint Discrimination”

The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division, led by Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon, formally notified Portland officials of the investigation on Friday. Dhillon’s letter accused the bureau of potential “viewpoint discrimination” in its enforcement of protest-related laws, citing not only Sortor’s arrest but also the recent assault on conservative journalist Katie Daviscourt earlier in the week.

Daviscourt was attacked Tuesday night outside the same ICE facility by a woman wielding a flagpole, resulting in a black eye, concussion, and eye hemorrhage. Witnesses identified the suspect to officers, yet no arrest was made, according to The Post Millennial.

Dhillon contrasted that response with Sortor’s detention:

“PPB reportedly arrested individuals who may have been involved in an altercation, choosing to arrest Nick Sortor but not others,” she wrote. “PPB reportedly failed to identify or arrest individuals who allegedly assaulted Katie Daviscourt, even after briefly detaining the individuals.”

Broader Federal Concerns Over Portland’s Conduct

Dhillon’s letter also raised broader issues surrounding the city’s zoning enforcement disputes with federal authorities over the ICE facility, suggesting Portland officials may have used local regulations to obstruct federal immigration enforcement — a long-running point of contention between local progressives and Washington.

The Justice Department has demanded body camera footage, unredacted police reports, and internal reviews related to both incidents. Portland officials have until October 10 to comply.

Portland Police Push Back

Portland Police Chief Bob Day responded Friday, noting that the department has already been under federal oversight since 2012 due to earlier civil rights settlements.

“The actions and steps that we are taking now in the enforcement action around protest activity are actually designed and supported by the partnership of the Department of Justice,” Day said. “I welcome the scrutiny. I am proud of the men and women and the work we’re doing.”

Day rejected claims that political bias influenced the decision to arrest Sortor:

“The irony here is we were condemned in 2020 for our approach toward the left, and now we’re being condemned in 2025 for our approach toward the right,” he said. “So I would say we’ve landed right in the middle of the fairway.”

A Pattern of Selective Enforcement

Critics argue Portland’s approach has emboldened radical activists while targeting conservatives who attempt to report on their activities. Bondi’s probe marks a decisive move by the Trump administration to reassert federal accountability in a city that has become synonymous with disorder and double standards.