Alek Skarlatos is an Oregon state representative for House District 4 and deputy leader of the House Republican caucus. He is a former Oregon National Guard soldier who received the Soldier's Medal for helping stop an armed attacker on a train to Paris in 2015.
Case
A Border Patrol agent shot and wounded two unarmed Venezuelan nationals in a Portland hospital parking lot on January 8, 2026. DHS says the driver weaponized his truck; charges against both were later reduced, and a bullet-removal incident drew scrutiny.
Role at the time: Oregon state representative (R-Winston), speaking at a press conference of Republican legislators in Salem
Statement summary
Rep. Alek Skarlatos said the elected officials holding press conferences on the shooting were raising the temperature at the worst possible time. He said they should take pause and let the facts come out instead of jumping on the bandwagon of throwing law enforcement under the bus.
“These are elected leaders statewide. These aren't just random people that are giving these press conferences They are raising the temperature at the worst possible time after what happened in Minneapolis. It should be more of a reason for them to take pause and let the facts come out instead of just jumping on the bandwagon of throwing law enforcement under the bus.”
The case asks whether the Border Patrol agent was justified in shooting the two people. Skarlatos did not address the agent's conduct directly. He said elected officials were raising the temperature and should let the facts come out instead of throwing law enforcement under the bus. That disputes how other officials framed the shooting and does not say the shooting was justified, so we used the label Challenged the characterization.
Statement dates: January 11, 2026
Statement dates: January 11, 2026
Statement dates: January 11, 2026
