Chaos erupts at legislative town hall in Coeur d'Alene

COEUR d’ALENE — Saturday’s legislative town hall hosted by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee turned volatile after some attendees voiced their concerns over the possible repeal of Medicaid expansion and other bills working their way through the Idaho Legislature.

After making remarks from the audience to several legislative members on stage, Teresa Borrenpohl of Post Falls was asked to leave. 

After refusing, Borrenpohl was pulled from her seat, wrestled to the ground, and dragged out of the Coeur d’Alene High School auditorium by three unidentified people.

In a video on social media, Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris can be seen telling Borrenpohl to “get up or be arrested” before the men stepped in.

“This is not a negotiation,” Norris told Borrenpohl.

“Women deserve a voice,” Borrenpohl shouted before initial contact with the men.

Many in the audience became upset, several leaving the event entirely, as the event’s emcee, Ed Bejarana, continued speaking about Borrenpohl just before she was dragged out.

“Look at this little girl over here, everyone. Look at her,” Bejarana said.

Bejarana’s comments continued as a few dozen audience members began filming the incident, with several more booing and shouting at Bejarana and the unidentified men.

Bejarana accused Borrenpohl and other audience members of “filibustering” and continued talking about the Department of Government Efficiency.

“We’ve got to be a little aggressive with some of these folks here,” Bejarana said. “Your voice is meaningless right now. ... I can talk over all of you.”

“Is this a town hall or a lecture?” one woman in the audience shouted.

Several women in the audience held signs in silent protest, including slogans such as “Save Voter Approved Medicaid.”

Ed DePriest, who was in attendance, called Saturday’s events “a microcosm of what has been going on in the last three to five years.”

“(There’s been) so much divisiveness and anger,” DePriest said. “It’s very, very sad.”

    Borrenpohl is seen held against the ground after Saturday's Legislative Town Hall, hosted by the KCRCC, turned volatile.
  

    Several audience members protested in silence by holding up signs during Saturday's Legislative Town Hall.