Wyoming’s lone congressional Rep. Harriet Hageman will no longer appear at town halls set for later this week in Cheyenne and Torrington, opting instead for virtual events, she announced Tuesday.
Her office blamed the change on “public events, credible threats to Hageman, and the related national outbursts of politically motivated violence and attempts at intimidation,” according to a statement posted to the congresswoman’s website.
In response, Wyoming Democrats said Hageman and other conservatives were seeking to distract from widespread frustration with President Donald Trump and Elon Musk’s dismantling of some federal agencies.
“I don’t think she expected the pushback that she received,” Democratic Party Chairman Joe Barbuto said. “In every community of every size that she visited, there were people of all political stripes there to say ‘hey, we’re really concerned.’”
Hageman had scheduled events in Cheyenne on Friday and Torrington on Saturday. Her decision to move them to a virtual format comes six days after a raucous crowd of more than 500 jeered the congresswoman during a tense town hall in Laramie. Though people in the crowd booed and cursed Hageman, no one was asked to leave or escorted out amid a heavy law enforcement presence, a Laramie police officer told WyoFile that night. No arrests were reported.
At one point during the back-and-forth, Hageman told her constituents that “it’s so bizarre to me how obsessed you are with the federal government. You guys are going to have a heart attack if you don’t calm down,” she said. “I’m sorry, you’re hysterical.”
Hageman cites other incidents
More than 20 law enforcement officers were assigned to a town hall the following night in Wheatland, the statement from Hageman’s office said. “Despite the law enforcement presence, an attendee followed Hageman leaving the venue and initiated a physical confrontation with staff, into which local police were forced to intervene,” the statement reads.
WyoFile has reached out to the Wheatland Police Department and is awaiting more information on the events described by Hageman.
“I thank our wonderful law enforcement community for their willingness to support the public and myself while participating in our government process,” Hageman said in a statement. “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.”
The congresswoman further alleged that her office received a number of credible threatening calls and emails, which are now the subject of a law enforcement investigation.
The Wyoming Democratic Party “certainly does not condone any kinds of violence or threats or harassment of any kind,” Barbuto said. Both elected officials and their staff in both political parties should be able to operate free from fears for their physical safety, he said.
“But at the same time, we have a fundamental right to protest,” he said. “The idea that protest is the same as chaos and using that to justify cancelling these public events is a disservice.”
Hageman said she’s held 75 in-person town halls since running for Congress, with events in all 23 of Wyoming’s counties. All but the most recent two were held without incident, she said.
The move to a virtual format for future events will continue “at least in the short-term,” her office said.
“It’s no secret that I am willing to engage with citizens on any topic, in any place. But I draw the line when organized protestors intentionally create confrontation and chaos, escalating tensions to a point where violence seems inevitable,” Hageman said in a statement.
Lawmakers often host town hall events in their communities during congressional downtime. In a conservative state like Wyoming, those gatherings often draw many supporters of the state’s all-Republican congressional delegation.
But amid Trump and Musk’s dramatic cuts to federal programs and mass layoffs of government workers, upset constituents have been appearing in growing numbers at town halls across the country to demand answers from lawmakers. Republican leaders in Congress urged members to stop hosting town halls to avoid confrontations with angry constituents going viral.
History of protests
After the Laramie event, some conservative politicians and pundits, citing the raucous nature of the event in a conservative state, suggested that the protesters weren’t legitimate constituents. But Laramie, one of the few blue-leaning communities in deeply red Wyoming, has a history of civil disobedience for left-leaning causes. During the summer and fall of 2020, for instance, hundreds of people marched through downtown to protest police brutality and the police shooting of local resident Robbie Ramirez.
One of the city’s House representatives, Karlee Provenza, described those making assertions about protesters flocking into town from other places as ignorant to Laramie’s civic nature.
“Welcome to House District 45,” she said, “where we think a little different than the people who are sent to Washington D.C. on our behalf.”
In Laramie, Provenza continued, “people have continued to show up for things that matter to them. And they are fed up and they’re your constituents. And instead of acknowledging their concerns you [Hageman] were dismissive, so of course they were upset.”
To Provenza, the overarching message of Hageman’s tour through Wyoming, and the pushback she has seen in various towns and cities, is not that the state’s few Democrats are somehow unruly or dangerous. It is instead that certain actions of the Trump administration, and Elon Musk’s DOGE cost-cutting initiative in particular, are upsetting people, she said.
“Quite frankly, I think it’s lazy to say that their anger and suffering is not valid and has no place here,” she said of Hageman’s characterization of the reaction seen on her tour. “That’s what someone says who doesn’t have to work for their vote.”
I am writing this in response to Representative Hageman’s decision to no longer appear at town halls.
Citing her explanation “It’s no secret that I’m willing to engage with citizens on any topic, in any place. But I draw the line when organized protestors intentionally create confrontation and chaos escalating tensions to a point where violence seems inevitable.”
I have to wonder if she has considered what it must have been like for Congressional members and Capital police when our Nation’s capital actually experienced violence from organized protestors and who did intentionally create confrontation and chaos. Violence that led to deaths and serious injuries Those families then living with the fact that their aggressors were then pardoned by President Trump.
Yes, Representative Hageman it must have been uncomfortable to be heckled and booed, but you didn’t see effigies burned and you didn’t have to flee to a locked down place for safety. And to call these constituents “hysterical” is rather humorous. Hysteria started when President Trump encouraged his supporters to attack the Capital. Perhaps not lecturing but listening to all Wyoming voters is the skill that is needed.
It seems very convenient to have phone-in town hall meetings because Representative Hageman can then pick and choose what issues she wants to address and put forth only her agenda. That is apparently what she wants these town hall meetings to be.
It appears if anyone voices opposition to decisions being made by President Trump or Elon Musk their life’s position could be in jeopardy. I wonder what voicing my opinion may lead to.
Lorna Bria
Lander, WY
Unable to win a civil debate, Democrats inevitably resort to shouting others down. It indicates weakness of mind and character, and a lack of any credible ideas to create their own platform. Burning Teslas is terrorism, not “protest.”
Ms Hageman I was so glad to meet you in Gillette to hear how strong you stand for the state of Wyoming & the good use of our land & production. Thank you for showing respect to all people even if there is disagreement. I was sorry to hear that the law enforcement had to step in but like you, I do appreciate that they did. My prayer is that it will not inhibit you in any way to continue to speak for the majority of Wyoming people. Thank you for your strong stand for the benefit of Wyoming.
its funny how only the last two are now unruly, because now that Trump is exposing fraud and waste and starting the swamp draining, some Democrats are now upset, ….Awwww, aint that special….elections have consequences. Remember learn to code was something the hypocrites on the Left refurgitated back when Obama ‘won’ twice in a row, but no one was violent then, huh, thats weird its onky now tha Democrats have finally not been capable of ‘winning’…hmmm
Leftist Democrats own political violence and domestic terrorism.
Those who scream loudest are always on the take. Fake righteous indignation from leftists is a sign of their fraud.
Ms. Hageman passed up ample opportunities to hone her oratorical skills in the last election cycle by refusing to engage the challengers to her seat and skirting debates of the issues in a public forum. She has only herself to blame now for being at a crippling disadvantage whenever she attempts to defend her role in all of the nonsense that has been oozing out of the beltway. She was hired by us to do a job. It is not unreasonable for us to ask simple questions and expect simple answers in return. I do believe that she actually does possess the skill set necessary to effectively represent the people of Wyoming; but it is her condescension in articulating her position to the folks back home and her appallingly dismissive behavior toward some very valid concerns that have garnered her all of this disrespect.
I’ve always thought that each government program has a contingency and when you try to mess with any particular government program you do so at your own peril. That’s why it is so difficult to cut government spending. The last one we had with the skill to deal that was President Clinton. He was the last President who actually had a budget surplus. Maybe Hageman needs to go up to New York and take a class in good old southern charm from Bill. Whatever she is doing now ain’t working.
A very wise God-like person in Jerusalem entered the temple courts and told the people who were selling doves to leave. He flipped over their tables and benches that they were using. He was disgusted at what was occurring in places of worship. These people at the town hall meeting are disgusted with what their government is doing to them. Losing their jobs, investments plundering, inflation increasing, creating an unwanted tariff war, plans to cut 80K employees at Veterans Affairs, Dismantling of the Department of Education and its research division, etc. This is no reason to be upset, really!
I attended one of Rep Hageman’s town halls last week and can say for sure that it wasn’t just the democrats in the crowd that were frustrated. Part of the problem was the Representatives formate for the event. She spent the first thirty minutes giving her usual “pat myself on the back” campaign speech and then started to take some questions that were “soft balls”from some of her supporters. As the questions got more troublesome, she was forced to “dance” around the answers when what the crowd was looking for was something a little more concrete.
After thirty minutes, as the questioners were becoming more frustrated and the questions more probing, Ms Hageman called it a night. I don’t think that anyone was ever expecting her to leave after such a short time reserved for questions. The group was frustrated and upset and expressed their disappointment.
The problem was, as was shown in one of the videos, when asked about Social Security, she kept yelling that she would not touch it. Well, anyone who has been following developments with SS, knows that the Doge people are gutting the Administration that operates the program. They may not be touching the “trust fund” itself but they will make the program unrecognizable.
I have to think that Rep Hageman knows all about this plan, but being the skilled lawyer that she is, she can’t be accused of lying if she was only referring to the trust fund itself.
This situation was revealed on Meet the Press this week when the Senator from Utah was asked about what was happening with SS and he admitted that the Republican Party was not being honest with the public.
A lifelong registered Republican no more.
Sad deal when a transparent politician has open floor town halls to listen, explain and answer some questions but these groups of faceless trouble makers try to start trouble and cost cities and business money with violence and threats and bring no positive or constructive ideas to discuss.
Brianna, can you give some specific details on the threats and violence? I’m guessing not.
Faceless trouble makers? They are in the photos in the story. Nobody is wearing a mask. You can literally see their faces. These Patriots live in our communities. Trying to discount your own neighbors’ legit concerns is rather unneighborly. There was no violence. There were no threats. AOC is getting death threats daily, threats of violent rape and dismemberment, and she’s going into deep red districts and talking to people. Harriet can’t handle a serious question about gutting SS on home turf? Harriet is a feckless coward.
Here’s a constructive idea to discuss, Ms Jones. If doge is cutting costs, why are the pubs trying to eliminate the debt ceiling? Doesn’t make sense.
Here’s another, why were team orange’s Cabinet members sharing detailed miliary strike plans on Signal like a collection of dimwitted drunk frat boys?
Why are Canadians booing the American National Anthem? Why is the EU holding Ukrainian peace talks without US reps? Why is Greenland pushing back on a US diplomatic visit? Why are eggs $10 a dozen and the stock market hemorrhaging? The list goes on and on, but follows the typical sane Patriots’ reactions to fascism taking hold in our country.
Prove it. She hasn’t been able to prove it.ans nobody gutting anything except what biden gutted that takes effect next month.
“There is a moment in Henry Kissinger’s memoirs—do not buy the book—when Nixon and Kissinger are looking out at tens of thousands of anti-war protesters who have surrounded the White House. Nixon had placed empty city buses in front of the White House to keep the protesters back. He worried out loud that the crowd would break through the barricades and get him and Kissinger. And that is exactly where we want people in power to be. This is why, although he was not a liberal, Nixon was our last liberal president. He was scared of movements. And if we cannot make the elites scared of us, we will fail. This is our calling.” ~ Chris Hedges ~ Chris Hedges Full Speech at Workers Strike Back Conference ~ https://chrishedges.substack.com/p/chris-hedges-full-speech-at-workers
The Wyoming Democratic Party “certainly does not condone any kinds of violence or threats or harassment of any kind,” Barbuto said. . .“But at the same time, we have a fundamental right to protest.”
Anything before the “But” is negated by the “But.” The real meaning of anyone who says “but” while making a point only means the part after the “but”
I agree with Rep. Hageman’s statement, “it’s so bizarre to me how obsessed you are with the federal government. . .” I’ll let Ayn Rand’s words fill in for mine here:
“The only proper purpose of a government is to protect man’s rights, which means: to protect him from physical violence. A proper government is only a policeman, acting as an agent of man’s self-defense, and, as such, may resort to force only against those who start the use of force. The only proper functions of a government are: the police, to protect you from criminals; the army, to protect you from foreign invaders; and the courts, to protect your property and contracts from breach or fraud by others, to settle disputes by rational rules, according to objective law. But a government that initiates the employment of force against men who had forced no one, the employment of armed compulsion against disarmed victims, is a nightmare infernal machine designed to annihilate morality: such a government reverses its only moral purpose and switches from the role of protector to the role of man’s deadliest enemy, from the role of policeman to the role of a criminal vested with the right to the wielding of violence against victims deprived of the right of self-defense. Such a government substitutes for morality the following rule of social conduct: you may do whatever you please to your neighbor, provided your gang is bigger than his.”
I’m sorry, but no. People do have a right to protest peacefully. Just because some didn’t like what was being said or the language used doesn’t mean that it wasn’t protected under the 1st amendment. The Albany County Sheriff’s Department and the LPD were there. At no point did they need to restrain anyone, remove them, or even give them a warning. They deserve a shout out because they did exactly as they were supposed to by protecting everyone’s 1st amendment rights and I made it a point to thank them when the town hall was over. And yes, lots of people actually want a federal government and have grave concerns about how all of this is being handled. Most of us agree in it being efficient as possible, we just don’t agree with an unelected man axing all of it to see what happens next. That’s not efficient.
Perhaps you posted your reply to the wrong post?
I am not opposed to public protest. PEACEFUL protest. It is the duty of a well-informed electorate to let our elected officials know what we think. And yes, I agree that peace officers deserve a great deal of credit for their handling of the event.
As for the “unelected man” making cuts, how about the thousands of unelected bureaucrats writing rules and penalties that harm the electorate–where we have virtually no ability to review, protest or force change in policy through elections? May I suggest, you should be consistent and advocate for the concerns of all citizens as to the droves of unaccountable bureaucrats damaging our freedom every day.
Nope, I’m 100% certain I have the correct post, but thanks all the same for questioning it. I usually know what I’m commenting on and why. I didn’t realize based on your comment that you were there, because if you were you would have known that it was peaceful, in that there was no physical violence. People yelling to be heard doesn’t actually count as violence even when the message isn’t something that you agree with. If you need a good reminder of what an actual violent protest looks like, look no further than January 6th 2021. I can assure you that this certainly wasn’t that. I was consistent as were 90% of the voters in attendance about our message. We all had serious concerns and voiced them to OUR lone elected representative in the US congress who clearly didn’t care. It is what it is, but don’t expect most of us to go along with this in silence, that’s not going to happen. We can agree to disagree.
Best.
👍
Exactly-well put-thanks David!
Unelected? Like Anthony Blinken–who, who with “Joe”, fronting for Obama, sucked us into a war where a million have died and presided over the deadly, ignominious retreat from Afghanistan? How about Majorkas? Twelve million plus illegals across the border, including criminals, gangs and terrorists, at a cost of close to a trillion to you and I? Monies gone. Mal-investment. Now part of the impetus of current cuts. Did you complain about good, ol’ Alejandro being “unelected”?
Your selectivity is remarkable, as are your blinders to the fiscal state of the nation, and the waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer money, much of it laundered back to Dem pet projects, campaign finance and good old fashioned graft. If not stopped, no one will have a job, or a business, and whatever dollars you manage to scrape together won’t get you a loaf of bread.
I have one complaint about appointee, Elon. He needs to cut more, faster.
Representative Hageman does not understand that she represents all the citizens of Wyoming. The people who attend her town halls are a mixed bag of political leanings, not just Democrats as she implies. And we are all upset that she is not listening to their voices. She reminds me of the kid who grabs his basketball and leaves just because his team is losing.
We are upset, not because Trump and Musk are trying to cut the federal budget, but because they are doing it in a ham-handed way. They are doing it in a way that will destroy agencies we actually need and cutting federal employees who are trying to do the best they can. There are agencies that are very important to us. An example being things such as FEMA in the middle of a horrendous year of hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires. Or cuts to the Forest Service when we just had a year of historical wildfires, some of which actually hit Wyoming.
And the thing that bothers me them most is the cruel way they are firing people. Essentially, they fire all people by telling them they are lousy employees by way of group emails and give them little time to collect their belongings or say goodby to friends and coworkers. They could show a little empathy instead of total apathy.
My suggestion to Harriet is to listen to what we are saying instead of running away. Show a little humanity, care for you constituents and show some dignity. Your loyalty is to your constituents not Trump and Musk.
Would the town meetings be safer if more people brought guns?
Well played.
Of course they would. Given that Wyomingites are rather gun-savvy, the presence of visible, holstered guns does not cause public anxiety–rather they seem to inspire civility. Personally, I feel safer when the general public openly carries because those who might cause trouble will think twice when surrounded by those able to defend themselves.
I’m sorry but when I see someone who is not law enforcement openly carrying a gun it causes me anxiety. You don’t know what that person is going to do with that gun or if they are even sane. I don’t feel safer, I feel scared.
I have to give you credit for that one.
To paraphrase the immoral Wayne LaPierre:
” the only way to stop a big mouth with bad ideas is with bigger mouths with bigger ideas” ( or something along those lines…)
You have to do a lot of things right to gain people’s trust. Trump and Musk are going in the opposite direction in that regard. The best thing Hageman can do for her future is to come to grips with that fact if she wants to continue in politics.
Wyoming voters of all persuasions are confused and upset about what’s happening in our country. Hageman playing the victim to avoid unhappy voters is weak. She got into office by using threats and lies, now she’s cravenly avoiding facing constituents due her, maga and the freedom caucus actions in Cheyenne and DC. Pathetic but not surprising.
Does anyone else see that
this is horribly wrong? Whose job is it to protect our duly elected officials in our state of Wyoming? These rude, vile actions by the people attending Rep. Harriet Hageman’s town meetings should be arrested and put in jail. I believe you had your say last fall.You can have your say in a courtroom.
Trump and his ilk belong in jail..
Mary, there’s a short stop on the way to the 2nd Amend, called the 1st Amend. Being rude to a vile woman is well within the 1st Amend rights of WY citizens, particularly while they are holding a corrupt power to accountability. Trying to silence opposing political viewpoints is a clear move by a fascist. If the shoe fits, keep it. Try to take away those rights, and we’ll see you in court.
I guess you ditched your civics class when you were in school. If you believe that those expressing their opinions should be arrested and put in jail, you should relocate to North Korea or Russia. Or at a minimum, read the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Right on, Mary Young! Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, Mao and Putin would wholeheartedly agree with you! Let’s arrest and jail those who don’t agree with the smirking maga monster masquerading as a Congresswoman
Mary, if you feel that yelling at a Congressional Representative in a town hall meeting is deserving of jail time, you must have been appalled when the Jan 6 rioters were released. Right?
what about our safety?
Hageman’s announcement, coming as it did shortly after the security breach, and the announcement that the administration plans to get rid of FEMA, strikes me as self serving. Even more folks are upset now than last weekend, and it’s only Wednesday, so she would be facing more intense opposition to her ardent support of the administration. Unfortunately, because of her choice to use tele-town hall, questions will be limited to her preferred talking points. It’s a cowardly move.
I agree that protests should not involve threats or intimidation. On the other hand, if the goal is to avoid making our elected officials feel uncomfortable, I would say they have become the snowflakes that they like to make fun of. If you can’t take the heat, maybe you need to get out of the kitchen. Or at least figure out where the heat is coming from. Good leadership is acknowledging that those who disagree with you have a valid point, but that it is not the course of action you will pursue. Take time to explain why. Simply spouting off that you have a mandate is not a valid explanation.
Well, that certainly makes their job easier, as if it wasn’t easy enough to begin with. Keep voting against yourselves Wyoming!
You can’t cure stupid.
Not only is “the smirk” unaccountable, now she’s too much of a coward to face the constituents? This should surprise no one
Being obnoxious and disrespectful is something Wyoming has learned from the freedom caucus.
We should have conducted our patrols in Iraq virtually, citing safety concerns and cost to public resources. Ditto Afghanistan.
Harriet the coward. Who knew, besides those paying attention?
Typical alt-right bully, “Fight, fight, fight…. until someone stands up to me, then cower, cower, cower.”
Harriet should hold her townhalls on Signal, with the rest of the orange criminals. Add WyoFile to the group chat.
While I believe she should face the crowds, I can also understand this, the left is so unhinged, even here in Wyoming they do stupid garbage. One can even have a logical discussion with most of them.
Maybe try understanding that people are actually concerned, afraid, and just plain mad about what’s happening and stop using “radical leftists” as a scapegoat. I was there, it wasn’t a bunch of “crazed leftists” who voiced their concerns. Dismissing it as hysteria or whatever is throwing gas on a fire in a situation like this. Either own what’s currently happening in DC on behalf of the GOP and somehow defend that to your constituents or wake up and realize that the trump agenda went south popularity -wise in a little over a month. People are not happy with what’s going on with good reason and the polls clearly illustrate that point. Let the national security/war plan debacle that came to light yesterday via an inexcusable mistake serve as a good example of why voters have legitimate concerns. Figure it out or face the consequences at the polls in 26′. It probably won’t matter in this state, but it will in others.
Very much agreed. Well said.
It’s sad in this Country that you cannot have a civil conversation or civil town hall – regardless of which side of the isle you are on. Democrats shouldn’t be proud of what happened in Laramie, but ashamed. And I do not blame Congresswoman Hageman for cancelling, there are some radical people out there that obviously cannot control their emotions and actions – and it does not take but one crack pot to do something stupid. Sad state of affairs Wyoming, sad state of affairs.
It’s not all Democrats complaining
You are assuming “the Democrats” are the only people upset, and voicing their opinion. Is everything that’s happening in Washington what you voted for? This conservative victimization runs deep.
Hageman was sent to Washington to be the voice of Wyoming, but now it seems she’s back “home” to deliver the agenda from Washington.
That’s wrong. Face the crowds and stand for what your beliefs are. Don’t be intimidated.
She’s not intimidated. She’s just ducking hard questions, like Lummis, Barrasso and the rest of the Congressional GOP.
Amen. And all three of them are self-serving hypocritical cowards. All 3 are a national embarrassment.