Washington, D.C. – Today, the Inspectors General (IG) of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced they will both launch investigations into the Trump Administration's use of violent tactics against peaceful protestors in Washington D.C., Portland, Oregon, and elsewhere around the country.

The DOJ and DHS IGs announced the investigations after House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), and Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) sent a letter to both agencies to condemn the Trump Administration's use of violent force and to demand the Inspectors General investigate.

Chairs Nadler, Thompson and Maloney issued the following joint statement: 

“We are pleased the Department of Justice Inspector General Horowitz and Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Cuffari each announced an investigation into the legal authorities used to justify the Trump Administration’s decision to deploy federal law enforcement to suppress, teargas, and beat peaceful protestors and American citizens exercising their First Amendment rights.  

“These investigations are critically important as the President and his chief enablers, including the Attorney General and Acting Homeland Security Secretary, have announced plans to send federal law enforcement authorities to additional cities in the coming days.  Many of these federal agents are dressed as soldiers, driving unmarked vehicles and refusing to identify themselves or their agencies.  They have occupied the streets of American cities against the express wishes of state and local officials.  Nearly everywhere they have deployed, their presence has increased tensions and caused more confrontation between demonstrators and police.  And they have done all of this on the flimsiest of legal pretext.

“Congress will continue to check this reckless Administration, but it is deeply important that these independent inspectors general get to the bottom of President Trump’s use of force against his own citizens.”

The letter from the DOJ IG is here.

The letter from the DHS IG is here.

The letter from Nadler, Thompson and Maloney demanding an investigation is here.