Idaho town hall turns into chaos after Dem legislative candidate dragged out by security for heckling speakers: Violent and traumatic

A Republican-hosted legislative town hall meeting in northern Idaho descended into chaos after three plainclothes security workers forcibly removed a woman who was heckling the speakers.The incident Saturday at Coeur d’Alene High School, first reported by the Coeur d’Alene Press, drew widespread attention after videos of the turbulence were posted online.Now more than $120,000 has been raised for Teresa Borrenpohl’s legal costs, and the police chief has asked to have the security firm’s business license revoked.The city attorney’s office also dismissed a misdemeanor battery citation against Borrenpohl “in the interest of justice,” Coeur d’Alene Police Chief Lee White said Monday, and detectives are reviewing video to determine whether the security officers violated any laws.Roughly 450 people attended the legislative town hall hosted by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee, said the organization’s chairman Brent Regan.

All of them were told that security officers were present, and that “anyone who refused to respect the rights of others would be removed from the event.”Still, videos show cheers and jeers were erupting throughout the crowd at times — including when one lawmaker mentioned legislation that he said protected doctors from “being forced to do abortions.”“Women are dying,” one person in the audience shouted.“And doctors are leaving our state!” another yelled.

A moderator tried to quiet the crowd, scolding people for “popping off with stupid remarks.”That’s when Borrenpohl, a Democratic legislative candidate who has run unsuccessfully in the deeply Republican region, began to shout as well.“Is this a town hall, or a lecture?” she asked, others in the audience echoing the question.By that point, Borrenpohl had been warned at least three times to stop interrupting the speakers, said Regan.“We’re trying to respect the rights of the 450 people that were there to listen.One person can’t stand up...