An Idaho Republican town hall descended into chaos when a protestor was pulled from her seat, wrestled to the bottom and dragged out of a packed auditorium by three unidentified personal safety guards.
Teresa Borrenpohl of Publish Falls was requested to depart the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee assembly at Coeur d’Alene Excessive Faculty on Saturday after she and different activists heckled state GOP lawmakers on stage about a number of payments working their means by way of the state’s legislature.
Borrenpohl, who unsuccessfully ran for a seat within the Idaho Home as a Democrat in November, mentioned she was “seized” after talking towards state Consultant Ron Mendive, she told the Couer d’Alene/Publish Falls Press.
“Please rise up, or you’ll be escorted out,” Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris could be heard saying in a video circulating on social media. Borrenpohl mentioned she didn’t acknowledge Norris at first when he approached her within the dimly lit room sporting denims and a baseball cap.
“Who the f*** are you?,” Borrenpohl repeatedly requested Norris as he filmed the encounter within the background.
Borrenpohl and Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris had an trade after the girl’s objections (Fb/Bianca Meleo)
In the meantime, the occasion’s emcee Ed Bejarana taunted the girl over the tannoy system.
“Simply take a look at this. This little lady is afraid to depart. She spoke up and now she doesn’t need to endure the implications,” he mentioned. Bejarana accused Borrenpohl and others of “filibustering” as he mentioned Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.
After Borrenpohl finally appeared to acknowledge the sheriff, one of many males walked in the direction of the girl.
“Excuse me Sheriff Norris… this man is assaulting me,” she mentioned.
Teresa Borrenpohl was dragged out of Coeur d’Alene Excessive Faculty on Saturday (Fb/Bianca Meleo)
“You, out now. Get her out” Norris replied pointing at Borrenpohl, resulting in a second man approaching her.
“Is that this your deputy?,” Borrenpohl continued to ask with no response. “Who the f*** are these males? Who’re you?”
A 3rd unidentified man then rushed to help as Borrenpohl was dragged to the ground by the wrists and ankles.
Shouts of “step away from her” and “you’re hurting her” could be heard coming from the group within the video. Different ladies are seen holding indicators in silent protest, displaying messages resembling “Save Voter-Permitted Medicaid.”
“Simply cooperate, it’ll be 100 occasions higher,” one of many males instructed Borrenpohl.
Borrenpohl was dragged to the ground by the wrists and ankles. earlier than she finally clambered again to her seat (Fb/Bianca Meleo)
After refusing, she was once more pulled from her seat earlier than one of many males flopped on her.
Borrepohl was later cited and launched for misdemeanor battery after allegedly biting one of many plain-clothed safety guards, in accordance with the Coeur d’Alene Police Division.
Police Chief Lee White confirmed Sunday that the three males who dragged Borrenpohl from the assembly labored for LEAR Asset Administration, a personal safety agency. Coeur d’Alene metropolis code requires safety personnel to put on uniforms “clearly marked” with the phrase “safety.”
Norris, together with city corridor organizers, claimed that they had no data of the safety personnel or who employed them, in accordance with the Couer d’Alene/Publish Falls Press
Borrenpohl was cited and launched for misdemeanor battery after allegedly biting one of many males (Fb/Kootenai County Republican Central Committee)
The sheriff mentioned he was invited to steer the Pledge of Allegiance on the city corridor and remained onsite attributable to a current risk towards state Consultant Jordan Redman.
The Kootenai County Republican Central Committee condemned the girl’s actions, and in a press release launched Sunday, mentioned: “The group vocally cheered any point out of Range, Fairness, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, erupting in applause and chants, whereas loudly booing each reference to the Bible or President Donald Trump, drawing sharp rebukes from attendees.”
The Idaho Democratic Get together Chair Lauren Necochea additionally issued a press release Sunday.
“Our Democracy rests on our First Modification rights. If we will’t query leaders elected to symbolize us with out worry of reprisal, we aren’t free,” she mentioned.
Necochea mentioned that Kootenai County Republicans “didn’t intend to permit dialogue between legislators and constituents they serve,” including that it was a “very unhappy day” watching Borrenpohl being dragged out by the guards and taunted by the moderator.
The Impartial has contacted the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee, Kootenai County Sherriff’s Workplace and LEAR Asset Administration for extra data.
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