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Former DHS official calls out Portland police chief’s tearful remarks on gang suspects who attacked feds
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Former acting DHS Deputy Secretary Ken Cuccinelli criticized Portland leadership after the city’s police chief appeared emotional while confirming that two suspects shot during a federal immigration operation had suspected ties to the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang.
Portland Chief of Police Bob Day spoke at a press conference on Friday when he confirmed a DHS statement linking the two individuals shot by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agent to TdA.
Ken Cuccinelli criticized Portland’s policing priorities as “soft,” arguing that the city’s policies are detrimental to public safety. (Megan Varner/Getty Images)
The suspects, Luis David Nino-Moncada and Yorlenys Betzabeth Zambrano-Contreras, “weaponized their vehicle against Border Patrol in Portland,” DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin alleged in a press release.
“This information in no way is meant to disparage, or to condone or support or agree with any of the actions that occurred yesterday,” Day said while wiping his eyes, prompting mockery by Fox News hosts.
DEM NARRATIVE CHALLENGED AFTER DHS EXPOSES IDENTITY OF ‘MARRIED COUPLE’ IN CBP-RELATED SHOOTING
Portland Police Chief Bob Day wipes away tears while speaking at a news conference on Friday, Jan. 9, 2026, after confirming that two illegal immigrants shot by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent had ties to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua. (KPTV)
“Do we have a girly man problem with police chiefs in our country?” host Rachel Campos-Duffy asked Cuccinelli after playing a clip from Day’s press conference on “Fox & Friends Weekend” on Sunday.
“It’s Portland, Rachel. They have a girly man problem that’s much broader than just the police chief,” Cuccinelli replied. “This is a statewide problem, and they’re not the only state.”
Cuccinelli argued that “hiring for softness instead of for toughness and reliability” has undermined public safety in Portland.
He warned that Tren de Aragua is a fast-growing danger in the United States.
PORTLAND AGITATORS CLASH WITH POLICE AFTER 2 SHOT BY FEDERAL IMMIGRATION AGENT
“They escalated up the ramp of violence, if you will, much faster than other gangs like, say, MS-13.”
It appears CBP “responded appropriately,” Cuccinelli added, “but this is definitely one we’re going to want to see all of the evidence [for].”
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Cuccinelli also praised Day for correcting himself after initially hesitating to disclose the suspects’ ties to TdA.
“I appreciated that the police chief corrected his error,” he said. “He’s the only person on the left who’s been critical and then come back and corrected his errors.”
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SEATTLE, WA – JULY 4: Dominique Malonga #14 of the Seattle Storm drives to the basket during the game against the Portland Fire on July 4, 2026 at Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, Washington. (David Ryder / NBAE / Getty Images)
SEATTLE – Carla Leite scored 20 points to lead the Portland Fire to a 77-72 victory over the Seattle Storm on Saturday night.
Leite made 4 of 8 shots and all 12 of her free throws, adding four assists for Portland (9-12). Bridget Carleton totaled 14 points and seven rebounds, while Megan Gustafson added 10 points and nine boards.
Dominique Malonga had 22 points to pace Seattle (5-17) and Natisha Hiedeman scored 15. Awa Fam had 12 points, while fellow rookie Flau’jae Johnson was held to a season-low one point.
Leite had two three-point plays to start the third quarter and Frieda Buhner came off the bench to score all nine of her points over a six-minute span as Portland turned a 32-30 halftime lead into a 54-47 advantage. Gustafson sank a 3-pointer for a 41-38 lead and the Fire never trailed again.
Emily Engstler had all nine of her points and six of her eight rebounds by halftime, helping Portland outscore Seattle 22-10 in the second period for a two-point lead at the break.
Hiedeman had nine points in the first quarter and Seattle used a 13-2 run over the final 5:27 to take a 20-10 lead before falling to 0-12 against Western Conference opponents this season.
Portland went 1-3 on a four-game trip.
Up next
Seattle: At Los Angeles Sparks on Monday.
Portland: Hosts Las Vegas Aces on Thursday.
The Source: Information in this story came from The Associated Press.
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