A conservative influencer says he plans to sue the city of Portland for $10 million over his arrest outside the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in October.
Nick Sortor, of Washington D.C., signaled on Monday that he will file claims that his civil rights were violated by the Portland Police Bureau during his Oct. 2 arrest. Sortor filed a tort claim, a legal filing that’s required when a person plans to file a lawsuit.
Conservative influencer Nick Sorter, left, takes images from atop the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility on Oct. 7, 2025, during a visit by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
Sortor appeared on FOX News on Monday night to discuss his experiences with protesters in New Orleans, but briefly mentioned to host Laura Ingraham that his Portland suit will argue his arrest is an example of the city police bureau’s bias against conservatives.
“This is a pattern and practice of these far-left cities,” Sortor said, “Ordering their police departments to go after people like me and, in Portland’s case, leave the leftist protesters alone, give them more runway and latitude.”
Sortor landed in custody after he reportedly had a heated argument with protesters who opposed the Trump administration’s deportation efforts this year. One protester reportedly pushed Sortor with an umbrella, and another swung a stick at him.
But Sortor was never charged. The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office said the evidence showed he was justifiably acting in defense. Prosecutors charged the other two, Son Yi and Angella Davis, with disorderly conduct.
Still, the arrest kicked up a media storm and became emblematic of the dueling narratives about the city.
Portland police keeping the area in front of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility on Oct. 7, 2025, during a visit by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Kristyna Wentz-Graff / OPB
The U.S. Department of Justice’s civil rights division wrote to Portland leaders Oct. 3 about Sortor’s arrest being an example of “viewpoint discrimination” against conservatives. This came after President Donald Trump had called the city “war ravaged” and stoked fears of anarchy and destruction.
City and state leaders repeatedly pushed back, both in writing to the Justice Department and in federal court opposing the Trump administration’s attempts to deploy members of the National Guard to the city. A federal judge sided with the local leaders, blocking the guard deployment, but the order remains on appeal.
Sortor’s legal claims are a continuation of the argument. His tort claim includes a 24-page memo that details events dating back to 2016 that he and his lawyer believe show how the city and local police “protect Antifa operations and advance Antifa political objectives.”
Conservative influencer Nick Sorter, center left, takes images from atop the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility on Oct. 7, 2025, during a visit by U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Eli Imadali / OPB
In an interview with OPB, attorney Angus Lee highlighted sections of the tort claim concerning the 2022 trial of Patriot Prayer leader Joey Gibson and co-defendant Russell Schultz. Those charges stemmed from a 2019 brawl outside of a bar in Portland. At trial, a Multnomah County judge threw the case out, citing a lack of evidence.
“There’s no jury out there that’s going to be happy with the pattern and practice of misconduct that we’ll show being done by the Portland police,” Lee said.
Representatives for the Portland Police Bureau and the city attorney’s office declined to comment.
