PORTLAND, Ore. — The Secret Service says it’s investigating the hanging of a cardboard effigy of Barack Obama from a tree on a Christian university campus to determine if it constitutes threats against the Democratic presidential candidate.
But the agent in charge of the Portland office says he doesn’t expect to turn up a crime.
“We are continuing to investigate but I don’t think it’s going to go any further,” agent Ron Wampole said. “There certainly wasn’t any crime committed. I don’t believe.”
The FBI, meanwhile, is looking into possible civil rights violations, said agency spokeswoman Beth Anne Steeled.
The commercially produced image was discovered Tuesday on the Newberg campus of George Fox University, a school founded in 1891 by Quaker pioneers.
The cutout was tied to the tree with fish wire and accompanied by a message referring to a minority student scholarship program.
Local officials said no state law was broken. Lt. Jeff Kosmicki of the Newberg Police said the department will not join the school’s investigation.
“This behavior is reprehensible,” said Brad Berry, Yamhill County district attorney. “But not all offensive behavior is criminal.”
The act seemed not to pose a direct threat, he said, and may fall within protected free speech rights.
It was tied to the tree with fishing line around the neck and accompanied by a message referring to a minority student scholarship program called “Act Six.” The sign read, “Act Six reject.”
The school has 17 students in the Act Six program, named for the New Testament book of Acts. Participants receive full scholarships and are selected on the basis of leadership potential.
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