Graham urges DOJ to prosecute man suspected of Portland truck driver attack

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Tuesday urged federal prosecutors to charge a suspect involved in the beating of a truck driver in Portland, Ore.

“I would urge the Department of Justice to actively pursue prosecution of the perpetrators of this horrific attack,” Graham tweeted.

The Republican senator referenced a Portland police report from Sunday over a truck driver who police say was attempting to flee a group of protesters, crashed his vehicle and was subsequently beaten by a hostile crowd.

“This shocking attack by a mob against a young man in the streets of Portland is beyond the pale,” Graham wrote. “They taunted and tortured this individual before severely injuring him.”

I would urge the Department of Justice to actively pursue prosecution of the perpetrators of this horrific attack.”

— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) August 18, 2020

The driver was taken to a hospital by an ambulance and reportedly suffered serious injuries.

Footage captured from the incident shows a large group of people taunting and hitting the victim as he sits on the ground. 

At one point, a suspect identified by the Portland Police Bureau as Marquise “Keese” Love is accused of running up to the driver and kicked him hard in the face, causing the driver to go unconscious. 

“Investigators learned that the victim may have been trying to help a transgender female who had some of her things stolen in the area of Southwest Taylor and 4th Ave, the location where this incident began,” police said Monday.

Police reported crowds of peaceful protesters had gathered earlier in the night at Chapman Square and Lownsdale Square parks.

Law enforcement declared a riot in the Portland downtown area on Saturday after police vehicles were allegedly hit with rocks and other objects by a crowd of people.