WASHINGTON — From Monday night into Tuesday early morning, as federal law enforcement fired tear gas at protesters outside a federal building in Portland, Oregon, a CBS News crew captured this moment:
“What was it like when they all came out there?" CBS correspondent Carter Evans asked. An unnamed protester who gathered multiple tear gas canisters replied, "Literal war. Except you can’t fire back on your enemy."
We analyzed the CBS News video and noticed similarities to the evidence we gathered in D.C., including tear gas canisters and exploded stinger ball grenades.
First, notice the canister on the lower left and its CM trademark. That’s identical to these OC and CS tear gas canisters we collected outside Lafayette Park
Also on middle right of the Portland picture, that’s a stinger ball grenade. It sprays rubber pellets at high speeds. The Portland grenade is marked as holding artificial CS tear gas inside.
That’s nearly identical to the exploded stinger ball grenade we found in D.C. – with natural OC tear gas inside.
In D.C., the following agencies have been identified so far as taking part in the push against protesters in and around Lafayette Park on June 1: U.S. Park Police in the lead; U.S. Bureau of Prisons; U.S. Secret Service; D.C. National Guard; Arlington Police; and D.C. Metropolitan Police
None have admitted to firing tear gas canisters – despite video showing Park Police throwing a stinger ball grenade at protesters.
According to a lawsuit filed by the Oregon Attorney General's Office, the following federal agencies are acting against protesters in Portland: Department of Homeland Security; U.S. Marshals; Customs and Border Protection; and the Federal Protection Service
On Thursday, the Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General announced an investigation into federal agents actions towards protesters in both DC and Portland. It’s joined by inspectors general for the Departments of Interior and Homeland Security.
Meanwhile, a congressional committee plans to hold its second hearing into Lafayette Park protests next Tuesday.
Friday evening, that House committee announced Acting USPP chief Gregory Monahan will testify at 10AM Tuesday:
Rep. Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) asked fellow committee members and journalists at the prior hearing June 29, “Do you have any concerns as journalists and others who were there if they had not shared photos of OC and CS gas canisters and videos that occurred that we may not have known the truth?”
Cameras spotted Bureau of Prisons grenadiers holding the launchers capable of launching these tear gas canisters. Since early June, we’ve repeatedly asked the agency for answers. It has not responded.
