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Portland: Open FBI files or we'll leave task force
By Anne M. Peterson, Associated Press Writer
Thursday, March 24, 2005 | 1 comment(s)
PORTLAND - Portland's mayor has proposed a plan that would keep the city in the FBI's Joint Terrorism Task Force only if federal officials share certain information with local leaders.
The resolution was introduced by Mayor Tom Potter on Wednesday and goes before the full City Council next week.
The FBI's terrorism task force works with officers from police departments in 100 cities across the country to investigate potential terrorists and prevent possible attacks.
But the City Council had questioned whether it should renew its role in the task force if federal officials refuse to grant top-secret clearance to the mayor and police chief. That could expand the city's oversight over any FBI anti-terror operations that include Portland police officers.
Robert Jordan, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Portland division, said there is no precedent for granting top-secret clearance to an elected municipal official.
For now, officers assigned to the task force have higher security clearance than Potter or police chief Derrick Foxworth, who currently has a higher level of clearance than the mayor.
The resolution ensures that "we protect all people who live in Portland: protect their property, protect their lives, protect their rights," Potter said.
Under the terms of the resolution, introduced by Potter and Public Safety Commissioner Randy Leonard, the federal government has 90 days to respond.
Jordan said he was concerned that the resolution's language seemed to impose conditions on any "federally directed" joint task force in which Portland police participate.
"For the FBI, this includes not only the Joint Terrorism Task Force, but also potentially our violent Crimes Task Force and the Regional Computer Forensics Lab, as well as various drug task forces," Jordan said.
The issue is controversial in Portland, which has seen two high-profile terrorism cases.
Potter took office seven months after the controversial arrest of a Portland lawyer whose fingerprints the FBI eventually determined had been mistakenly linked to the terrorist bombings that killed 191 people in Spain last March.
The FBI issued a rare public apology to attorney Brandon Mayfield, a convert to Islam who is suing the government over the mistake.
Portland also drew national attention for the federal trials of six people who eventually pleaded guilty to involvement in an unsuccessful plot to travel to Afghanistan and join the Taliban in its battle against the U.S. military.
The American Civil Liberties Union has led much of the criticism of the joint task force, urging greater accountability to prevent the abuse of civil liberties.
Both Potter and Jordan said whatever the outcome of the resolution, the city and the FBI should continue efforts to work together when there is a terrorism threat.
Foxworth issued a statement pledging cooperation with federal officials.
"The Portland Police Bureau will continue to provide for the safety and security for the citizens of Portland, whether it is through our ongoing participation with the JTTF or working cooperatively with out federal partners on a case-by-case basis on those investigations that have a direct impact on Portland," Foxworth said.
The resolution was introduced by Mayor Tom Potter on Wednesday and goes before the full City Council next week.
The FBI's terrorism task force works with officers from police departments in 100 cities across the country to investigate potential terrorists and prevent possible attacks.
But the City Council had questioned whether it should renew its role in the task force if federal officials refuse to grant top-secret clearance to the mayor and police chief. That could expand the city's oversight over any FBI anti-terror operations that include Portland police officers.
Robert Jordan, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Portland division, said there is no precedent for granting top-secret clearance to an elected municipal official.
For now, officers assigned to the task force have higher security clearance than Potter or police chief Derrick Foxworth, who currently has a higher level of clearance than the mayor.
The resolution ensures that "we protect all people who live in Portland: protect their property, protect their lives, protect their rights," Potter said.
Under the terms of the resolution, introduced by Potter and Public Safety Commissioner Randy Leonard, the federal government has 90 days to respond.
Jordan said he was concerned that the resolution's language seemed to impose conditions on any "federally directed" joint task force in which Portland police participate.
"For the FBI, this includes not only the Joint Terrorism Task Force, but also potentially our violent Crimes Task Force and the Regional Computer Forensics Lab, as well as various drug task forces," Jordan said.
The issue is controversial in Portland, which has seen two high-profile terrorism cases.
Potter took office seven months after the controversial arrest of a Portland lawyer whose fingerprints the FBI eventually determined had been mistakenly linked to the terrorist bombings that killed 191 people in Spain last March.
The FBI issued a rare public apology to attorney Brandon Mayfield, a convert to Islam who is suing the government over the mistake.
Portland also drew national attention for the federal trials of six people who eventually pleaded guilty to involvement in an unsuccessful plot to travel to Afghanistan and join the Taliban in its battle against the U.S. military.
The American Civil Liberties Union has led much of the criticism of the joint task force, urging greater accountability to prevent the abuse of civil liberties.
Both Potter and Jordan said whatever the outcome of the resolution, the city and the FBI should continue efforts to work together when there is a terrorism threat.
Foxworth issued a statement pledging cooperation with federal officials.
"The Portland Police Bureau will continue to provide for the safety and security for the citizens of Portland, whether it is through our ongoing participation with the JTTF or working cooperatively with out federal partners on a case-by-case basis on those investigations that have a direct impact on Portland," Foxworth said.
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