6 hours ago
4
You have a preview view of this article while we are checking your access. When we have confirmed access, the full article content will load.
The City of Coeur d’Alene revoked the license of a security firm after its plainclothes guards forcibly removed a woman. The police said they were investigating the incident.
Video
transcript
transcript
Forcible Removal of Idaho Townhall Heckler Prompts Investigation
Teresa Borrenpohl was grabbed and detained by plainclothes men from a private security firm after disrupting a legislative town hall meeting in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The chaos has prompted a police investigation.
“Who are these guys?” “Who are you?” “Who are these guys?” “Who are you?” “All right, hold on one moment. OK, again, you folks who are just popping off with stupid remarks, you’re not taking into account the people sitting next to you.” “Is this a town hall or a lecture?” “— but not right now.” “Is this a town hall or a lecture?” “Get out.” My name is Robert Norris. I’m the sheriff of Kootenai County. We’re asking you to leave on video. Please get up or you’ll be escorted out. Let’s go. You’re going to be escorted out.” “Who are these people?” “Who are you?” “Who are these people?” “Who are you? Who are you?” “Where are your badges? Who are you and where are your badges? “What’s your badge number?” “You’ve been told too many times to close your mouth. And you don’t close your mouth. You’ll have an opportunity to speak —” “Where are your badges? Who are these people?” “I thought Republicans believed in free speech.” “Sheriff Norris, who are these guys?”
Feb. 25, 2025, 5:54 p.m. ET
The woman had been heckling speakers and speaking out at a town-hall meeting hosted by local Republicans in Cour d’Alene, a small city in northwest Idaho. The local sheriff asked her to leave, even pulling at her arm at one point and threatening to arrest her, according to videos from the event that have been published online.
Next, men wearing black jackets, and not known to be affiliated with local law enforcement, descended upon the woman, pulled her off the chair and to the floor while she cried out, asking who the men were, using an expletive. They eventually dragged her out of the auditorium.
The woman, Teresa Borrenpohl, a former Democratic candidate for state office in Idaho, argued that everyone should be allowed to speak at a local political event. But organizers of the meeting with state legislators, which was hosted by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee, said that she repeatedly refused to follow the rules.
The commotion at this high school auditorium in Idaho came as tensions have flared across the country and debates over politically divisive topics, such as abortion, immigration and diversity, equity and inclusion programs, have turned heated at other venues.
About 450 people attended Saturday afternoon’s town hall, said Brent Regan, chairman of the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee. Mr. Regan said he had made an announcement that the town hall was “a private event,” and that attendees would be escorted out of the event by security if they were disruptive. “People were told what the rules were,” he said.
The men who removed Ms. Borrenpohl from the meeting have since been identified by the Republican committee and local law enforcement as plainclothes security personnel with Lear Asset Management, Inc., a private security firm based in California. The City of Coeur d’Alene has revoked the firm’s license, and the chaos has prompted a police investigation into the episode, said Sgt. Jared Reneau, a spokesman with the Coeur d’Alene Police Department.
