Democrat activist Teresa Borrenpohl bit a security guard who was forcibly removing her from a Republican town hall meeting, leading to criminal charges for six men and a $5 million lawsuit that exposes the left’s tactical use of disruption.
Key Takeaways
- Six men, including five security guards, face criminal charges including battery and false imprisonment for forcibly removing a Democrat heckler from a Republican town hall meeting in Idaho.
- The security firm Lear Asset Management had its license revoked after the incident, highlighting the consequences of improper security protocols at political events.
- The Democrat protestor, Teresa Borrenpohl, was cited for battery herself after allegedly biting one of the men during her removal.
- Borrenpohl has filed a $5 million lawsuit against the men and the county sheriff, turning a disruption into a potential taxpayer liability.
- The incident demonstrates the growing pattern of leftist activists disrupting conservative events and then weaponizing legal action when removed.
Democrat Activist Removed After Disrupting Republican Town Hall
In a telling display of the left’s tactics to disrupt conservative events, Teresa Borrenpohl, a former Democrat nominee, was forcibly removed from a Republican town hall meeting in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho this February. The incident, which has now resulted in criminal charges against six men, showcases the increasingly common strategy of leftist activists: disrupt conservative gatherings, resist removal, then cry victim and sue. Borrenpohl was reportedly heckling state GOP lawmakers when she was asked to leave the public meeting, a request she refused, leading to her forcible removal.
The charges levied against the men include misdemeanor battery, false imprisonment, and violations of security agent duties and uniform requirements. Four of the men—Paul Trouette, Russell Dunne, Christofer Berg, and Jesse Jones—are connected to Lear Asset Management, a private security firm whose license has since been revoked by the city. Alex Trouette faces charges related to security agent duties and uniform violations, while Michael Keller, who is not associated with the security firm, was also charged with misdemeanor battery.
The Left’s Playbook: Disrupt, Resist, Then Sue
What makes this case particularly noteworthy is how it follows a predictable pattern we’ve seen across the country. Left-wing activists attend conservative events not to listen or engage constructively, but to disrupt and provoke. When they’re inevitably asked to leave, they resist, forcing security to take action. Then comes the lawsuit, with claims of constitutional rights violations that ignore the rights of event organizers to conduct their affairs without disruption. In this case, Borrenpohl has filed a staggering $5 million lawsuit against the six men and the county sheriff.
“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” – Teresa Borrenpohl
What Borrenpohl conveniently omits from her statement is that free speech doesn’t include the right to disrupt organized events. Her own actions resulted in her being cited for misdemeanor battery for allegedly biting one of the men during her removal—a detail that significantly undermines her portrayal as a passive victim. This isn’t “discourse across the aisle”; it’s deliberate obstruction followed by legal theatrics designed to intimidate conservatives from holding public events at all.
Security Protocols and Legal Boundaries at Conservative Events
The incident does highlight genuine concerns about proper security protocols at public events. The men involved were in plain clothes and reportedly refused to identify themselves, which compounded the situation. Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris, who was also present in plain clothes, was recorded instructing Borrenpohl: “Please get up, or you will be escorted out.” When she refused, the situation escalated in ways that could have been avoided with clearer procedures and properly identified security personnel.
Conservative event organizers now face a difficult balancing act. They must maintain order and protect their right to assemble without disruption, while also ensuring security measures don’t cross legal boundaries that could expose them to lawsuits. The revocation of Lear Asset Management’s license and the criminal charges filed against the security personnel serve as a stark warning about the consequences of improper handling of disruptive attendees, regardless of how justified the removal might be.
The Troubling Double Standard
The most frustrating aspect of this incident is the glaring double standard in how disruptions are treated based on political affiliation. When conservatives are removed from leftist events, the media barely notices. When leftists are removed from conservative events, it becomes national news with demands for criminal charges and million-dollar lawsuits. This uneven application of standards creates an environment where leftist activists can effectively weaponize disruption as a tactic to silence conservative voices, knowing the legal system will often take their side.
“Please get up, or you will be escorted out.” – Kootenai County Sheriff Robert Norris
The independent investigation to be conducted by an outside agency will hopefully provide some clarity about what exactly transpired. Nevertheless, conservative event organizers across the country should take note: proper security protocols, clearly identified personnel, and measured responses to disruption are essential to avoid becoming the next target of this troubling legal strategy. The right to free assembly is too important to surrender to those who would abuse the legal system to undermine it.
Sources:
- 6 ‘security guards’ charged after booting woman for Republican town hall – as she files $5m lawsuit
- Six men charged for dragging woman from town-hall meeting in Idaho
