Hageman Cancels In-Person Town Halls Over ‘Democrat Threats Of Violence’

U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman told Cowboy State Daily last week she had no plans to cancel any of her town halls after a raucous forum held in Laramie last week, but escalating threats of violence have changed her plans.

Hageman announced Tuesday that she’s canceling in-person access to two of her upcoming town halls in Cheyenne and Torrington, and instead will only host the events virtually because of “Democrat threats of violence.”

“As the saying goes, ‘This is why we can’t have nice things,’” Hageman said in a statement. “I am proud of my record of holding dozens and dozens of town halls — 75 of them in just three years, at least three times in each of Wyoming’s 23 counties. 

“And the only times we have had any problems with safety have been at two of the six held in the last week.”

Specific Threats

In her statement, Hageman referenced a confrontation at a town hall she held in Wheatland last Thursday, where an attendee followed Hageman while she was leaving the venue and initiated a confrontation with staffin which local police were forced to intervene.

Platte County Sheriff David Russell confirmed to Cowboy State Daily the altercation happened. 

Russell said it involved a female Wheatland resident about 60-70 years old who was agitated and tried to get in Hageman’s face about her thoughts on the Congresswoman’s policies. He believes the perception of threat was amplified by the fact that the woman “talks with her hands a lot.”

Russell said the woman never actually made physical contact with Hageman’s staff, but police were forced to intervene to make sure that didn’t happen.

“We put the hands on the individual to get them away from there,” he said.

He said the woman was not arrested. 

Besides this incident, Russell said the Wheatland town hall was relatively tame compared to highly volatile town halls Hageman held in Laramie and Rock Springs in the days prior.

Hageman also said her staff in Washington, D.C. “have received numerous, credible threatening phone calls and emails, currently being investigated by multiple law enforcement agencies.”

“I thank our wonderful law enforcement community for their willingness to support the public and myself while participating in our government process,” Hageman added. “It has become apparent, however, that the continuation of in-person town halls will be a drain on our local resources due to safety concerns for attendees.”

Divisive Town Halls

The Laramie town hall was particularly combative, with many attendees screaming profanities at Hageman and interrupting her on numerous occasions. 

Despite this environment, Hageman stayed on stage for more than an hour and told Cowboy State Daily afterward she wasn’t intimidated, although members of her family and staff were.

“It’s no secret that I am willing to engage with citizens on any topic, in any place,” Hageman said. “But I draw the line when organized protestors intentionally create confrontation and chaos, escalating tensions to a point where violence seems inevitable.

“It’s not safe for the peaceful citizens who want to come out to speak to their elected representative face to face. It’s not safe for attendees, it’s not safe for law enforcement, and it doesn’t do anything to encourage a meaningful dialogue at all.”

Because of the events in Laramie, Hageman said more than 20 officers from multiple agencies were assigned to the Wheatland event, which Russell confirmed. Russell said there were no Secret Service agents present, but strictly local law enforcement.

Democrat-Caused?

Republicans around the country have been discouraged against holding in-person town halls, according to The Hill. 

National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Richard Hudson told House Republicans at a closed-door conference meeting earlier this month that members should opt for tele-town halls or livestreamed events that can reach more people, rather than in-person town halls that can be hijacked by Democratic activists.

Democratic Minority Leader Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, has confirmed this perception.

“We have people going into Republican districts and going after these Republicans who are voting for [the Trump agenda],” he said on PBS Newshour. “And forcing them to either change their vote or face the consequences.”

Hageman said her town halls will be conducted virtually until it seems safe to resume in-person events. She’s calling on Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffires, D-New York, to “denounce their party’s organized disruptors and crime.”

“A failure to do so will only further confirm that the left’s radical tactics are no longer on the fringe but the mainstay of the Democratic party and prove once again their disdain for the First Amendment and legitimate political discourse,” Hageman said. “It is time for them to demand that their partisans stop threatening and intimidating people and causing actual violence before someone gets seriously injured or killed.”

There have been documented incidents of politically motivated firebombing and other vandalism at Tesla dealerships across the world as well as an increase in incidents of “swatting” aimed at conservative media figures and notable Republicans. 

At least one person Cowboy State Daily spoke to at the Laramie town hall was opposing Hageman and identified as a Republican. However, this woman acted in a civil manner throughout the event.

Although it’s impossible to definitively say all of the agitators are all Democrats, it’s likely that most are based on Hageman’s approval rating among Republicans in Wyoming.

Some like Secretary of State Chuck Gray offered without evidence in a since-deleted post on social media that wealthy liberal donor George Soros bussed in activists for the Laramie event. 

Gray told Cowboy State Daily he made the post in reference to a theory expressed by Albany County Democratic Party Chair Klaus Halbsgut after the town hall that many of the people causing disruption at the event don’t live in Laramie.

State Rep. Mike Yin, D-Jackson, posted on social media that he found Gray’s conclusion beyond the pale.

“It's really disappointing to see one of our top five statewide electeds spread lies on his FB page,” Yin said. “If you can so easily make stuff up about your own constituents, why should we trust that you have the best interest of all of us in your heart? Honesty and integrity matters.”

Hageman will hold her virtual town hall for Cheyenne on Friday and Torrington on Saturday. Residents can sign up to participate here and here.

Contact Leo Wolfson at leo@cowboystatedaily.com

Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.