#Pelosi accuses Trump administration of ‘kidnapping’ Portland protesters

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is accusing the Trump administration of using federal police to “kidnap” protesters in Portland — likening their arrests to “banana republic” tactics.

“Last month, the Administration tear-gassed peaceful protestors in Washington, D.C.,” she wrote in a joint statement Saturday with Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer.

“Now, videos show them kidnapping protestors in unmarked cars in Portland – all with the goal of inflaming tensions for their own gain,” the statement said.

“While Portland is the President’s current target, any city could be next,” the statement added.

President Trump has vowed to protect federal property and monuments and has deployed federal officers to stand guard in Portland and other cities.

But with Oregon officials vowing to sue the federal government over the deployment, protest-roiled Portland was on the president’s mind again early Sunday.

“Oregon officials are running scared when it comes to Portland m [sic],” Trump tweeted shortly before 2 a.m. before quickly deleting the message.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler had joined other state officials Friday in demanding Trump remove the agents.

He reportedly referred to the agents as the president’s “personal army” — only escalating tensions.

Mark Morgan, the acting head of Customs and Border Protection, on Saturday called the accusation “outrageous.”

“The argument that the mere presence of federal officers and agents causes violence, that is outrageous and it’s ridiculous, and I believe that most American people do not believe that,” Morgan said.

Pelosi and Blumenauer said they were “moving swiftly” to stop the agents in Portland but didn’t elaborate on what actions they were taking.