A Republican-organized legislative town hall in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, descended into chaos when three private security agents forcibly removed Democratic activist Teresa Borrenpohl during heated exchanges. The controversial removal, captured on video and shared widely online, has now sparked a $93,000 legal defense fund and accusations of wrongful detention.
Borrenpohl, a 2024 state legislative candidate, received a misdemeanor battery citation for allegedly biting a security worker during the confrontation. Witness Tonya Coppedge described the scene:
They bent her wrist violently and refused to identify themselves. Everyone was shocked by their aggression.Kootenai County GOP Chairman Brent Regan countered that Borrenpohl disrupted proceedings for 18 minutes despite multiple warnings, stating
We must protect 450 attendees' right to civil discourse.
The incident raises critical questions about:
- Use of private security at public political events
- Boundaries between free speech and event disruption
- Law enforcement's role as Sheriff Norris filmed rather than intervened
Viral footage shows Borrenpohl challenging the unidentified men: Are you deputies?before being carried out horizontally. Her supporters argue the legal defense fund reflects widespread concern about disproportionate responses to political dissent. Critics maintain the GOP followed established security protocols to maintain order.
This confrontation underscores growing tensions in Idaho's political landscape, where recent elections have seen record turnout and heightened partisan activism. Legal experts predict the battery charge could test state laws regarding citizen arrests and security personnel authority at civic events.