Latest news with #Borrenpohl
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Woman dragged out of Republican town hall suing for $5M
Teresa Borrenpohl, the Idaho woman who was dragged to the floor and pulled out of a local Republican town hall in February, is seeking $5 million in damages from a private security firm and the men she says were responsible for her forcible removal from the meeting. Borrenpohl, a Democrat who unsuccessfully ran for a state House seat last fall, filed a notice of tort claim, which is a legally required precursor to a civil lawsuit in Idaho, on Monday. The suit concerns an incident from Feb. 22 in Coeur d'Alene in which Borrenpohl heckled lawmakers attending a town hall meeting attended by state legislators and hosted by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC). Borrenpohl's suit names Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris and KCRCC Chair Brent Regan, as well as Lear Asset Management, the private security firm for the event, and five Lear guards, including the company's CEO Paul Trouette. 'Town halls are intended to foster conversation and discourse across the aisle, which is why I am deeply alarmed that private security dragged me out of the public meeting for simply exercising my fundamental right of free speech,' Borrenpohl said in a statement. 'Since this disturbing incident, I have received an outpouring of support from people across the country, for which I am immensely grateful. Along with words of comfort and sympathy, folks have described similar acts of aggression in their own neighborhoods, reinforcing to me the importance of demanding accountability in my own case.' Efforts by The Hill to reach Lear Asset Management and Trouette by telephone were not successful, but Trouette in remarks to The Washington Post defended his company. 'The Constitution provides freedom of speech, but it does not provide a license to be disruptive,' he told the newspaper. Separately, Trouette and four other men face charges of battery and false imprisonment for actions related to the incident, according to a report in The New York Times. Those charges were brought by the Coeur d'Alene prosecutor's office. Two other men face separate charges. The City of Coeur d'Alene also revoked Lear's business license for violating city ordinances that require security agents to wear clearly marked uniforms, per the Times. Trouette told the Times those charges were baseless. 'We believe these charges are false and should have never been made,' he said. Viral video from the event shows several men pulling Borrenpohl out of her seat and into the aisle as she yells 'Who are these men?' Norris is seen in the video encouraging the men and recording the encounter on his phone, while Regan, who was speaking at the podium, also is shown expressing support for her physical removal. The KCRCC defended its actions in a Feb. 27 statement released five days after the event, arguing Borrenpohl interrupted the proceedings, shouted insults and prevented other people from participating, something it described as a 'heckler's veto.' It also described Borrenpohl as a 'known agitator' while saying her behavior crossed a line and that she was warned to cease her disruptions and asked by Norris to leave at least five times. 'The KCRCC acted wholly within our legal rights and Idaho law to ensure the peace, safety, and rights of those in attendance,' the group wrote. Borrenpohl's attorney said the sheriff and the security firm should both be held responsible for their treatment of her client. 'Today is the first step in the civil legal system for pursuing justice for Teresa and holding Lear Asset Management and Sheriff Norris responsible for the disturbing events that happened at the town hall event,' Borrenpohl's attorney, Wendy Olson, said in a statement. 'We have put the county on notice that its public officials intentionally obstructed Teresa's constitutional rights and physically assaulted her in the process.' Borrenpohl alleges that she 'suffered pain, scratches, bruising and emotional distress' from the ordeal. 'Ms. Borrenpohl was fearful for her safety throughout the time the men assaulted her. Because the men were unidentified, because Sheriff Norris directed them to physically remove her, and because of the manner in which they dragged her from the auditorium, Ms. Borrenpohl feared that she was being kidnapped,' it reads. According to Borrenpohl's claim and video of the incident, several people in the crowded auditorium were loudly responding to elected officials' remarks during the forum — some in support and others against, including Borrenpohl. 'Although several in the auditorium stood, pointed, and yelled, Ms. Borrenpohl remained seated while she was speaking,' the claim reads. 'No other person was physically grabbed and removed from the auditorium in the same manner prior to the unidentified men dragging her from the auditorium. Nor were any who supported the speakers confronted or asked to leave.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Hill
23-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hill
Woman dragged out of Republican town hall suing for $5M
Teresa Borrenpohl, the Idaho woman who was dragged to the floor and pulled out of a local Republican town hall in February, is seeking $5 million in damages from a private security firm and the men she says were responsible for her forcible removal from the meeting. Borrenpohl, a Democrat who unsuccessfully ran for a state House seat last fall, filed a notice of tort claim, which is a legally required precursor to a civil lawsuit in Idaho, on Monday. The suit concerns an incident from Feb. 22 in Coeur d'Alene in which Borrenpohl heckled lawmakers attending a town hall meeting attended by state legislators and hosted by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC). Borrenpohl's suit names Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris and KCRCC Chair Brent Regan, as well as Lear Asset Management, the private security firm for the event, and five Lear guards, including the company's CEO Paul Trouette. 'Town halls are intended to foster conversation and discourse across the aisle, which is why I am deeply alarmed that private security dragged me out of the public meeting for simply exercising my fundamental right of free speech,' Borrenpohl said in a statement. 'Since this disturbing incident, I have received an outpouring of support from people across the country, for which I am immensely grateful. Along with words of comfort and sympathy, folks have described similar acts of aggression in their own neighborhoods, reinforcing to me the importance of demanding accountability in my own case.' Efforts by The Hill to reach Lear Asset Management and Trouette by telephone were not successful, but Trouette in remarks to The Washington Post defended his company. 'The Constitution provides freedom of speech, but it does not provide a license to be disruptive,' he told the newspaper. Separately, Trouette and four other men face charges of battery and false imprisonment for actions related to the incident, according to a report in The New York Times. Those charges were brought by the Coeur d'Alene Prosecutor's Office. Two other men face separate charges. The City of Coeur d'Alene also revoked Lear's business license for violating city ordinances that require security agents to wear clearly marked uniforms, per the Times. Trouette told the Times those charges were baseless. 'We believe these charges are false and should have never been made,' he said. Viral video from the event shows several men pulling Borrenpohl out of her seat and into the aisle as she yells 'Who are these men?' Norris is seen in the video encouraging the men and recording the encounter on his phone, while Regan, who was speaking at the podium, also is shown expressing support for her physical removal. The KCRCC defended its actions in a Feb. 27 statement released five days after the event, arguing Borrenpohl interrupted the proceedings, shouted insults and prevented other people from participating, something it described as a 'heckler's veto.' It also described Borrenpohl as a 'known agitator' while saying her behavior crossed a line and that she was warned to cease her disruptions and asked by Norris to leave at least five times. 'The KCRCC acted wholly within our legal rights and Idaho law to ensure the peace, safety, and rights of those in attendance,' the group wrote. Borrenpohl's attorney said the sheriff and the security firm should both be held responsible for their treatment of her client. 'Today is the first step in the civil legal system for pursuing justice for Teresa and holding Lear Asset Management and Sheriff Norris responsible for the disturbing events that happened at the town hall event,' Borrenpohl attorney Wendy Olson said in a statement. 'We have put the county on notice that its public officials intentionally obstructed Teresa's constitutional rights and physically assaulted her in the process.' Borrenpohl alleges that she 'suffered pain, scratches, bruising and emotional distress' from the ordeal. 2024 Election Coverage 'Ms. Borrenpohl was fearful for her safety throughout the time the men assaulted her. Because the men were unidentified, because Sheriff Norris directed them to physically remove her, and because of the manner in which they dragged her from the auditorium, Ms. Borrenpohl feared that she was being kidnapped,' it reads. According to Borrenpohl's claim and video of the incident, several people in the crowded auditorium were loudly responding to elected officials' remarks during the forum — some in support and others against, including Borrenpohl. 'Although several in the auditorium stood, pointed, and yelled, Ms. Borrenpohl remained seated while she was speaking,' the claim reads. 'No other person was physically grabbed and removed from the auditorium in the same manner prior to the unidentified men dragging her from the auditorium. Nor were any who supported the speakers confronted or asked to leave.'
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Woman dragged out of Idaho town hall files complaint against sheriff, security
The woman who was dragged out of a Republican town hall in Coeur d'Alene in February intends to sue the county sheriff and the security team behind her removal. Teresa Borrenpohl filed a tort claim, or a legal complaint that puts other parties on notice for a civil lawsuit, in Kootenai County court Monday, according to a news release. Borrenpohl alleges her constitutional rights were violated by the security team and Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris when she was dragged out by her arms for jeering the emcee at the event, the release states. 'Town halls are intended to foster conversation and discourse across the aisle, which is why I am deeply alarmed that private security dragged me out of the public meeting for simply exercising my fundamental right of free speech,' Borrenpohl said in a statement. 'Since this disturbing incident, I have received an outpouring of support from people across the country, for which I am immensely grateful. Along with words of comfort and sympathy, folks have described similar acts of aggression in their own neighborhoods, reinforcing to me the importance of demanding accountability in my own case.' Borrenpohl, who is a former Democratic state legislative candidate, was jeering at the emcee and other people onstage at the Republican town hall hosted by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee at Coeur d'Alene High School on Feb. 22. She was forcibly removed by men in black jackets at the direction of Norris, video from the event shows. The men, who did not identify themselves at the time, were working as private security officers for Lear Asset Management, a California private security company. Coeur d'Alene police officers previously recommended some battery and false imprisonment charges against the five men working for Lear — Paul Trouette, Alexander Trouette, Christofer Berg, Russell Dunne and Jesse Jones — for allegedly grabbing or removing Teresa Borrenpohl and several other attendees, according to police reports. They have since been charged with a majority of those offenses, Coeur d'Alene Chief Deputy Prosecutor Ryan Hunter said last week. Norris is not considered a suspect, according to police reports, despite telling Borrenpohl to leave, grabbing her arms and trying to pull her from her chair and threatening her with pepper spray, video shows. Norris then gestured to the security team, and the men walked over and grabbed Borrenpohl, telling her to cooperate as Norris stood by, appearing to record the incident on a cellphone. As Borrenpohl screamed and asked Norris if the men were his deputies or if anyone knew who the men were, no one responded. Lear also never identified themselves, which led to the company losing its security license with the city. According to the claim, Borrenpohl was fearful of her safety since no one could identify the men dragging her out of the auditorium. At one point, she had to tuck her arms between herself and the floor to be able to breathe as she was being pinned down, the claim states. Video shows her being dragged by her arms as she kicks and screams. Borrenpohl was detained in the lobby for battery, but later released and the charges dropped. Borrenpohl came out of the incident with bruising, scratches and emotional distress caused by 'Sheriff Norris' actions and the actions of the unidentified men,' the claim says. 'Her clothing was damaged, and she was intentionally and willfully manhandled in a manner that harmed her dignity and reputation, causing her personal humiliation. Ms. Borrenpohl was terrified from the time the unidentified men approached her at Sheriff Norris's direction, and each act of Sheriff Norris, the unidentified men, and the others in the crowd encouraging their actions increased her fear.' The claim also names KCRCC chairman Brent Regan and emcee of the event Ed Bejarana. Regan gave statements after the event claiming it was private, when the event was actually public, according to the Coeur d'Alene school district. First Amendment free speech rights are generally more protected during public events as opposed to meetings conducting official government business. The claim asks for $5 million, plus attorney's fees, it says. Lear did not respond for comment. Norris' attorney, Kinzo Mihara, did not address the claim in an email sent Monday. Borrenpohl's attorney, Idaho First Amendment lawyer Wendy Olson, wrote in a statement: 'Today is the first step in the civil legal system for pursuing justice for Teresa and holding Lear Asset Management and Sheriff Norris responsible for the disturbing events that happened at the town hall event … We have put the county on notice that its public officials intentionally obstructed Teresa's constitutional rights and physically assaulted her in the process.'
USA Today
23-04-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Woman dragged out of Idaho town hall asks for $5 million in damages, 6 men charged
Woman dragged out of Idaho town hall asks for $5 million in damages, 6 men charged Show Caption Hide Caption Lawmakers face backlash over Elon Musk and DOGE during town halls Lawmakers from around the country are facing tough questions and tense atmospheres at town hall events over their stances on DOGE. Six men have been criminally charged in Idaho after an altercation at a Republican town hall ended in a woman being forcibly removed. The Coeur d'Alene City Attorney's Office confirmed with USA TODAY on April 21 that it filed charges on April 16 against five people working with a security firm and another attendee over their roles in the Feb. 22 incident. The arrests came after town halls across the country have become heated, as constituents from both parties expressed concern over President Donald Trump's swift and far-reaching staffing cuts. House Republicans were even advised to stop hosting town halls on account of the angry crowds. Police reports indicate Teresa Borrenpohl had yelled out at an event hosted by the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee at the Coeur d'Alene High School several times before she was approached and asked to leave. She told the Idaho Capital Sun she was expressing displeasure at the meeting, and "screamed," admittedly "out of turn," right before the incident occurred. On April 21, Borrenpohl filed a notice of a tort claim seeking $5 million in damages against several people involved in the incident. 'Town halls are intended to foster conversation and discourse across the aisle, which is why I am deeply alarmed that private security dragged me out of the public meeting for simply exercising my fundamental right of free speech,' Borrenpohl said in a statement announcing the claim. A 'dumpster fire': Angry voters bash lawmakers over Trump and DOGE Video: Plainclothes sheriff asked for her removal before she was dragged out A police report outlines a video of an interaction at the center of the charges, taken by Laura Tenneson. Here's what the detective reported seeing: A man approaches Boorenpohl, who was sitting several seats into a row of the auditorium, asking her to "get up or be arrested." Although the video shows he is wearing jeans, a black jacket and a cap, the report identified him as Sheriff Bob Norris of Kootenai County, where Coeur d'Alene is located. (The sheriff's office did not comment on Norris' actions but confirmed with USA TODAY that there were no other personnel present at the event.) Norris asks her multiple times to leave, before grabbing her arm and pulling on her arm, as she says several times, "please don't touch me." "You want pepper spray?" he asks. Norris steps out of the aisle and appears to direct two other men in, though no explicit order could be heard. Those two men begin trying to remove Boorenpohl. She screams at Norris, asking him to confirm if they are deputies, to which he doesn't answer. Two men, also in plainclothes without markers indicating they were security, take Borrenpohl by the arms and another by the feet. She ends up laying in the aisle on her stomach with one of the men kneeling over her back and another man standing nearby with zip ties for handcuffs. Eventually, they drag her up the aisle by her arms. At one point her shirt comes up, exposing her midsection and bra, the report states. Borrenpohl also admitted to biting one of the men during the struggle and was cited for battery, a police report states. Six people charged in town hall incident Police reports and the host of the event, Kootenai County Republican Central Committee, identified several of the suspects involved in removing Borrenpohl as members of a private security firm Lear Asset Management. According to a statement from the KCRCC a few days after the incident, Lear volunteered security services without a contract, as they were unarmed. The organization also said the event was private and attendees were warned that disruptors would be asked to leave. Five of the people charged by the city were with Lear Asset Management, which did not return USA TODAY's request for comment. The charges are: Paul Trouette – four counts of battery, two counts of false imprisonment, one count of security agent uniform violation and security agent duties violation Alex Trouette IV – one count of security agent uniform violation and one count of security agent duties violation Russell Dunne – two counts of battery and one count of false imprisonment, security agent uniform violation, security agent duties violation, and security agent license violation Christofer Berg – one count of battery, false imprisonment, security agent uniform violation, and security agent duties violation Jesse Jones – two counts of battery, two counts of false imprisonment, and one count of security agent uniform violation and security agent duties violation The sixth man, Michael Keller, was not affiliated with Lear Asset Management but was charged with battery in a separate incident. Police reports said he had an altercation with a woman who told police she was trying to get closer to Borrenpohl when Keller blocked and pushed her. KCRCC did not respond to USA TODAY's request for comment, but said in a Feb. 27 statement: "The KCRCC acted wholly within our legal rights and Idaho law to ensure the peace, safety, and rights of those in attendance," it reads. "We remain committed to providing a platform for civil engagement and will not allow such disruptions to undermine public discourse." The Idaho Republican Party later issued a statement in support of the county party, saying "The IDGOP reaffirms its commitment to free speech as a foundational value but it does not extend to violence or the suppression of other's voices." Contributing: Riley Beggin Kinsey Crowley is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at kcrowley@ Follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley or Bluesky at @
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
"Demand accountability": Idaho woman seeks $5M in damages after being dragged from GOP town hall
An Idaho woman who was dragged from a Republican town hall in Coeur d'Alene in February plans to sue the county sheriff and private security firm responsible for her upsetting removal. Teresa Borrenpohl filed a tort claim in Kootenai County on Monday, announcing her intention to bring a lawsuit against Sheriff Bob Norris and Lear Asset Management, the security firm whose plain-clothes employees pried Borrenpohl from her seat and removed her from the event. Borrenpohl's lawsuit comes shortly after the Coeur d'Alene City Prosecutor's office brought charges against the security guards. Four of the guards were charged with misdemeanor battery and false imprisonment, as well as violations of the city's requirements for uniformed security. A fifth security guard was charged with uniform violations. 'Town halls are intended to foster conversation and discourse across the aisle, which is why I am deeply alarmed that private security dragged me out of the public meeting for simply exercising my fundamental right of free speech,' Borrenpohl shared in a statement. Borrenpohl said she was encouraged to seek restitution by people who reached out to support her after video of her removal went viral. "I have received an outpouring of support from people across the country," she said. "Along with words of comfort and sympathy, folks have described similar acts of aggression in their own neighborhoods, reinforcing to me the importance of demanding accountability in my own case." Lear CEO Paul Trouette told the Washington Post that the charges against his employees were "misguided [and] false" and stood by the decision to remove Borrenpohl from the town hall. "The Constitution provides freedom of speech, but it does not provide a license to be disruptive,' he said.
