Senator Merkley weighs in on government shutdown and mobilization of federal troops in Portland
Spencer Sacks
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) — Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley met with members of the press Wednesday to answer questions relating to the government shutdown and federal troops in Portland.
This past weekend, President Trump announced that he is directing Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to mobilize and federalize the Oregon National Guard.
This garnered a significant response from Oregon Democrats, including Senator Merkley.
“Now, there is under Title 10 two exceptions for this,” he told reporters. “Those two exceptions are one, an invasion. Second, a rebellion. Well, clearly there is nothing happening in Portland that meets what those terms were meant to imply.”
Merkley is just one of many Oregon Democrats denouncing President Trump’s plan to ‘militarize’ Portland.
Over the past several days, weeks, and months, there have been significant calls for New York Senator and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to resign.
KTVZ’s Spencer Sacks asked Senator Merkley about these calls and if he believes Senator Schumer is the right man to lead the Democrats.
Sacks said, “There have been calls for Senator Schumer to step down as minority leader. Do you support those calls and do you think he’s the right man for the job?”
Sen. Merkley responded, “I think it’s a totally inappropriate question. He was elected. He serves for a two-year period, and I haven’t heard anybody in the Senate call for him to step down.”
As both the government shutdown and federal troops in Portland continue, we’ll have continuing coverage on KTVZ News.