[Portland] Ore. Police to Withdraw From FBI-Led Team

[Roland99]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/nat-gen/2005/apr/28/042808542.html

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - The City Council on Thursday approved a recommendation to withdraw police officers from an FBI-led anti-terror task force after federal authorities refused to raise the mayor's security clearance to let him keep closer watch over its activities.

The city is the first in the nation to pull out of the Joint Terrorism Task Force - a network the federal agency has put together across the country.

Mayor Tom Potter joined the council in a 4-1 vote to withdraw two city officers from the anti-terror team.

The mayor had felt political pressure to ensure oversight after the FBI wrongfully arrested Portland attorney Brandon Mayfield as a suspect in the Madrid train bombings last year - a mistake that prompted an FBI apology.

[stevedeshazer]

1. The Repubs here are having a real shit fit over this

Local hate radio in Portland has been HYSTERICAL.

Of course, Potter is right.

[eeyore]

2. I love my city!

Potter is right on with this! He's bound to catch a lot of shit, but he's willing to take it to stand up for our rights. Same as the way he's standing up for gay marriage rights. His daughter is a married lesbian cop with two kids, and he sees no reason why their marriage is less valid than his own. Go PDX!

[glitch]

3. So do I! You guys are leading the way.

And now you even have Thom Hartmann on KPOJ in the mornings. Oh yeah, jealous here in Seattle.
:yourock: