In the wake of anti-ICE protests, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms are seeking information about broken windows at the Eugene Federal Building, including by asking Eugene residents to identify those involved.
Video footage obtained by The Daily Emerald on Feb. 1 appears to show a window being broken by an individual inside the Eugene Federal Building, while footage released by the FBI on Feb. 13 appears to show the window being broken by an individual outside the building.
Robert Scherle, an independent photographer, was questioned by the FBI after the Jan. 30 protests and refused to turn over any photos or information.
Scherle said that the FBI asked for photographs of protesters who who allegedly destroyed property.
“They said ‘could you help us try and identify some of these protesters who damaged property?’ I just said, ‘you know, it was very smoky. I had a gas mask,’” Scherle said.
An 18-year-old student who wished to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation was also questioned by the FBI following their participation in protests at the federal building.
“(The FBI and the ATF) showed me their identification and said right off the bat, ‘you’re not in any trouble, we’re just here to see if we can ask you some questions about the protest,’” the student said.
They said the conversations felt more “social than interrogative,” but also felt that agents were “jumping around a point or tiptoeing around something.”
“I understand that I was not doing anything illegal. All the things I was doing at the protest were things that everyone else was doing. None of what I was doing would implicate me in any sort of case,” they said.
In a statement to The Emerald, the Portland FBI field office said that the FBI is looking to speak with members of the public who were seen documenting the protests, with the goal of identifying “rioters who smashed windows and breached the federal building.”
“Should an interviewee identify themselves as a member of the media and produce identification or credentials, we have processes in place to request information that adheres to the Constitutional right ensuring freedom of the press,” the statement said.
The student said they are unsure why the FBI came to speak to them but they are not surprised that they did.
“The federal building has cameras all over and I was covered up, but there’s all sorts of tactics and software that I’m sure they use to identify people,” they said.
After others their age were also questioned, the student said they felt like the FBI and ATF were specially questioning younger protesters.
“I just think it’s really telling that they are going after some of the youngest people in that crowd and I wouldn’t honestly be shocked if they are going after minors and not giving them the correct process when they’re contacted,” they said.
The FBI and the ATF left both the student and Scherle business cards and told them to contact them if they have any more information.
“I honestly think this shows a little bit of scaredness on their end or at least a little bit of ‘what are we going to do?’ We’re stronger together and the people being affected by the FBI’s investigation right now, we’re sticking together, we’re making sure each other are safe,” the student said.
Steve Schellenberger • Feb 23, 2026 at 9:30 am
Once again, misplaced priorities for the Fed. Clean up your own house before blaming someone else for your mess.
Rob Maillet • Feb 24, 2026 at 5:53 am
I believe if they looked at their own people, and it got out, the government would have to admit to what we all know. It was an act by their own agents in order to escalate the protest to riot status, which the people of Eugene and probably half the country knows to be the truth. And then people might question what is true at other protests.