this post was submitted on 25 Feb 2025
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Summary

A GOP town hall in Idaho turned violent when private security, LEAR Asset Management, forcibly removed Teresa Borrenpohl for speaking out.

The incident escalated after Borrenpohl questioned a panelist’s anti-abortion stance, leading to her being dragged out by unmarked security. Sheriff Norris, present but in plainclothes, did not intervene initially.

LEAR, known for aggressive tactics, was revealed to have been hired by the town hall organizers. Police later revoked LEAR’s city license and clarified that removing someone for speaking out is unlawful.

The incident shows rising tensions and the blurring lines between political events and private security enforcement in conservative areas.

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[–] Boddhisatva@lemmy.world 172 points 3 months ago (6 children)

The unmarked security force were from a private security firm called LEAR Asset Management, the Press reported, but Sheriff Norris “claimed no knowledge of the security personnel or who hired them.”

Wait, so the sheriff, admits that he just watched three unidentified men assault a woman in front of him, and that he has no knowledge of who they are or who hired them, and he took no action at all. If he knows nothing about them or who hired them, how would he know that they were providing security? This is brown shirts in action and the sheriff is clearly one of them. Terrifying.

[–] sartalon@lemmy.world 61 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (2 children)

Not just watched, he's the one in the video telling her she needs to leave and then had the "private security" remove her.

[–] Boddhisatva@lemmy.world 31 points 3 months ago (2 children)

But he doesn't know who hired them? Who was in charge of security for the event. How would the local sheriff no know that?

[–] Corkyskog@sh.itjust.works 9 points 3 months ago

Does their lawsuit shield come off them when their badge comes off?

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[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 14 points 3 months ago

So he gave the illegal order to remove her to vigilantes he didn't know as law enforcement, and he's not in trouble?

[–] Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 36 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

He didn't just watch; he was the first to make contact with her, then commanded the private security himself 'boys get her'.

https://youtu.be/-lxu3Ff_s14

[–] MajinBlayze@lemmy.world 22 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Remember, the police in the US have no duty to protect

[–] kreskin@lemmy.world 18 points 3 months ago

or to be truthful in their interactions.

And except for when you're driving, you have no responsibility to talk with them unless you're in a stop and identify state: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Utah, and Wisconsin.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stop_and_identify_statutes

You're not required to identify yourself or talk with them unless you are formally being detained, which is about the only thing they have to tell the truth about. They are not worth talking to in any situatuion, and they are never "off duty" So they are never worth talking to after work either. They should always be ignored and interacted with as little as possible.

[–] Furbag@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

Police in America exist to protect the wealthy. You can trace back their origins to the bounty hunters who caught and returned escaped slaves to their masters.

If you are not wealthy, the police are not your friends.

[–] P1k1e@lemmy.world 20 points 3 months ago

Sheriffs are known for being gangsters, probably just another day in the park for him

[–] RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world 19 points 3 months ago

I mean, it seems pretty clear he knew exactly who they were, and he decided to look the other way, which is just as bad.

[–] technocrit@lemmy.dbzer0.com 113 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

Support. But there's nothing shocking here unless you just woke up in January. The state has been dragging anti-genocide protesters out of everywhere for more than a year. Trying to kick them out of school, deport them, etc. LA wanted to hire mercenaries. Nothing new at all.

[–] SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 46 points 3 months ago

It has been going on a lot longer than that.

Don't taze me bro!

Pepperidge Farm always Remembers.

[–] BassTurd@lemmy.world 53 points 3 months ago (2 children)

If you're anywhere, and someone in plain clothes tries to force you to do anything and they haven't identified as police, start fucking swinging, especially if it's somewhere like this where it's clear that they don't have authority. They committed assault and it's perfectly legal to defend yourself if you feel threatened. In the end, you probably still end up getting dragged out, but maybe you can break a Nazi's nose, or if your lucky and hit them in the right spot hard enough, you could kill a Nazi.

At the very least, Teresa needs to sue everyone involved. Make being a fascist at least hurt.

[–] vinyl@lemmy.world 9 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Don't think it's a good idea to start swinging if the event is full of numb nuts with guns.

[–] gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago

I mean, if you can put yourself at the center of a crossfire event and make sure two or more get hurt as badly as you do it's a net positive

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[–] CharlesDarwin@lemmy.world 3 points 3 months ago

Yeah, it would have been nice to see them trying this shit on a woman that was well-versed in self-defense and knew their rights - maybe a few knees straight to the groin at top speed, some throat punches and some eye gouging.

I mean, it's possible it could have escalated even further, but seriously - if you have no idea who the hell is attacking you and trying to restrain you for...checks notes...speaking your mind, what other recourse do you have?

[–] jaybone@lemmy.world 50 points 3 months ago (1 children)

It’s interesting, the tv news i saw about this said that the organizers said that this wasn’t a “town hall” it was a private Republican Party event, and therefore people were not allowed to interrupt and they were allowed to hire their own private security.

This article makes it sound like they are walking that initial stance back a bit.

[–] Frozengyro@lemmy.world 44 points 3 months ago (2 children)

I mean a town hall in a rural part of Idaho kind of is a republican party event....

[–] gAlienLifeform@lemmy.world 28 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Allowing them to violently repress the people living in that town who do disagree with them won't do anything to make this country better

[–] Frozengyro@lemmy.world 15 points 3 months ago

Sadly less than half of us know that, but you are correct.

[–] theherk@lemmy.world 7 points 3 months ago

The irl equivalent of “flaired users only”.

[–] afronaut@lemmy.cafe 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)
[–] KeenFlame@feddit.nu 3 points 3 months ago

Did you notice that what she yelled was "is this a town hall or a lecture?" because this is what it was?

[–] conditional_soup@lemm.ee 49 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

God damn, when the city cops say "bro, you went too far", you fuuuuuucked up.

[–] CileTheSane@lemmy.ca 10 points 3 months ago (1 children)

when the city cops say “bro, you went too far”

Said after the fact, with no one being charged with a crime.

[–] DogPeePoo@lemm.ee 48 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Sue the shit out of them. It’s all on video.

[–] conditional_soup@lemm.ee 3 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

This is the way, at least until Trump squashes it by some new bullshit dictatorial power or the SCOTUS goes digging for what 1600s witch hunters thought about freedom of speech. Until then, however, we still at least nominally have a constitution that says she had a right to be there and speak.

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[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 46 points 3 months ago (2 children)

Link to incident. No news coverage, just the incident. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-aPFGNO5Wg

[–] samus12345@lemm.ee 11 points 3 months ago (2 children)

The most horrifying part to me is the boomers watching dispassionately as she's dragged away.

[–] pelespirit@sh.itjust.works 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, the Republicans thought it was a good thing to get rid of her. First Amendment anyone?

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[–] KillingTimeItself@lemmy.dbzer0.com 44 points 3 months ago (1 children)

bro what is this, youtube? Fix your fucking title.

[–] lazynooblet@lazysoci.al 19 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I dunno if it had been edited, but the current title matches the article.

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[–] kreskin@lemmy.world 34 points 3 months ago (1 children)

I think we'd all like to assume that law enforcement wouldnt let their political opinions influence the performance of their sworn duties but time and again we see this sort of thing, and theres no real way to hold them to any account or standard of professionalism at all. They are a clear danger to everyone they come into contact with, and they even have state sponsored permission to lie and deceive in their interactions with you.

[–] GaMEChld@lemmy.world 25 points 3 months ago (3 children)

Not that I disagree law enforcement needs a lot of fixing, but in this case I have to clarify the facts.

This was not law enforcement, this was private security. Actual law enforcement pulled the private group's license because of this.

[–] Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 25 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

An interesting note though; It was the ~~town~~ county sheriff that made first contact with her and he ordered the private security to remove her.

The sheriff so far is facing no punishment.

[–] edgesmash@lemmy.world 14 points 3 months ago

County sheriff, not town sheriff.

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[–] Bytemeister@lemmy.world 22 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Burn stuff. You've got a constitutional and legal right to assembly and speech. If they don't recognize that, then you don't have to recognize their position of power and authority laid out by the same constitutional and legal framework.

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[–] peoplebeproblems@midwest.social 21 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Ah, PMCs. PMCs are probably just as bad if not worse than brown-shirt like paramilitary, because they get paid to not have morals, and are usually far more coordinated and dangerous.

They're still soulless, brainless thugs, but motivated by easy money rather than pure ideology.

It's quite possible that the tech bro brought them with. The sheriff not doing shit though? That's a concern.

[–] masterofn001@lemmy.ca 16 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

The Constitutional sheriffs movement.

It's ....not good.

...contend that federal and state government authorities are subordinate to the local authority of county sheriffs and police. Self-described constitutional sheriffs assert that they are the supreme legal authority with the power and duty to defy or disregard laws they regard as unconstitutional.[2][3] As a result, they may sometimes be referred to as sovereign sheriffs.[4]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutional_Sheriffs_and_Peace_Officers_Association

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/constitutional-sheriffs-far-right-movement-1235103658/

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/constitutional-sheriffs-las-vegas-conference-rcna147487

https://www.npr.org/2022/10/22/1130755532/inside-the-constitutional-sheriff-movement

https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/constitutional-sheriffs/

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[–] Punchshark@lemmy.ca 17 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Murica and israel are the new nazis! Wild timeline!

[–] blazeknave@lemmy.world 8 points 3 months ago (1 children)
[–] Punchshark@lemmy.ca 7 points 3 months ago

Russia has been for a loooooong time already

[–] Rentlar@lemmy.ca 13 points 3 months ago

A town hall is where a politician declares his edict and participants silently accept them /s

[–] CileTheSane@lemmy.ca 8 points 3 months ago

Teresa Borrenpohl later told the Coeur d’Alene/Post Falls Press that, as it happened, she didn’t know if it was an arrest or a kidnapping.

Well it's good to know that if you get kidnapped plenty of people will film it happening to put online after the fact.

The general public outnumber these fascist assholes. If you see someone possibly being kidnapped by unknown assailants you look at someone beside you and say "we need to help them" and you fucking interfere.

[–] sartalon@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

Norris was in the video telling her she needed to leave.

This article is missing details.

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