A federal judge has made a key ruling on the controversial use of federal officers in dealing with ongoing protests in Portland.

Late Thursday night, U.S. Judge Michael Simon ruled that the feds cannot arrest or use physical force against journalists or legal observers, even after an unlawful assembly has been declared.

Simon’s decision was made on First Amendment grounds and comes just one day after Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler was tear-gassed by agents while standing in a crowd outside the federal courthouse.

Meanwhile, the White House has announced plans to expand the use of federal DHS agents against protests and violent crime in other cities.

Source: https://www.opb.org/news/article/portland-protest-restraining-order-force-federal-officers/