Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (R-WY) has announced a change in how her town hall meetings will be conducted, transitioning to tele-town halls or virtual formats for the near future.
This decision follows recent disruptions at public events and credible threats made against the congresswoman, along with growing national concerns over politically motivated violence and intimidation.
Hageman’s office revealed that the previously scheduled in-person town halls in Cheyenne on March 28 and Torrington on March 29 will now be held virtually, at the same times. The shift comes after incidents in recent weeks, including a chaotic town hall in Laramie on March 19, where hundreds of protestors disrupted the meeting, leading to tense confrontations. The unrest was fueled by activists from the local Albany County Democratic Party and national groups, according to Hageman’s office.
Despite having held 75 in-person town halls across Wyoming without significant incident, the congresswoman noted that two of the most recent events resulted in safety concerns. Following the Laramie town hall, another event in Wheatland on March 20 required over 20 law enforcement officers to maintain order, and even then, a physical confrontation occurred outside the venue. Additionally, Hageman’s staff members have received numerous credible threats, which are currently under investigation.
In light of these developments, Hageman explained that the continuation of in-person events could strain local resources due to safety concerns for attendees and law enforcement. As a result, her office will focus on virtual platforms for town halls until it is deemed safe to resume in-person meetings.
Hageman, who has made a point of holding town halls in all 23 of Wyoming’s counties since taking office, emphasized that her goal is to engage with constituents. However, she drew the line when protests and disruptions escalate to the point of potential violence.
“It’s not safe for the peaceful citizens who want to come out to speak to their elected representative face to face,” she stated.
In response to the changes, Hageman also called on national Democratic leaders, including Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Hakeem Jeffries, to denounce violent disruptions and organized protests. She expressed concern that failing to do so would signal tacit approval of such actions within the Democratic Party.
With input from Oil City News, WyoFile, Sheridan Media.
