As riots smoulder in downtown Portland, Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf appeared before the Senate Homeland Security And Governmental Affairs Committee on Thursday morning to defend the federal intervention to curb the unrest in America's crunchiest city (and the unofficial antifa capital) that is Portland, Oregon.

During his testimony, Wolf argued that local officers "were abandoned" by pandering politicians and department brass as violent anarchists attacked them night after night. Officers blamed local officials for failing to protect federal property, like a courthouse, that was repeatedly vandalized and even set on fire.

Wolf also slammed public officials who had the audacity to characterize federal agents as "thugs" or "storm troopers", noting the racially and politically charged language.

"Our law enforcement officers are not the Gestapo, storm troopers or thugs," Wolf said.