The plainclothes guards were involved in the forcible removal of a woman from a meeting hosted by local Republicans in Coeur d’Alene, prosecutors said.
The entire local GOP party pointed fingers at every other person involved when asked why and who hired them. Literally each member had a different answer, some saying the chair hired them, some saying the sheriff, some saying they had no idea. The Sheriff claimed he didnt hire them, but was specifically directing them to haul away the protestors.
They are charging them because it looks like no one "officially" hired them, and since no one will own them being the defacto security, they effectively assaulted and kidnapped these protestors.
Basically, these goons are getting tossed under the bus to protect the local GOP officials who wanted goons, but off the books goons. Way to get rolled, dummies.
It should also be noted that Coeur d'Alene - a town of only 50,000 people - is known primarily for being the Neo-Nazi capital of the PNW. They're also host to quite a few other Christian nationalist groups, to the point that the local GOP is basically beholden to said groups.
Nobody should be surprised when it's revealed in court that these brown shirts have ties to white supremacy.
Also why hasn't Sheriff Bob been charged? The video clearly shows Sheriff Robert Norris grabbing her arm and pulling, I'm pretty sure that constitutes assault. He also threatened her with assault and with pepper spraying her (lol in an auditorium in close proximity to other people). I hope she is awarded with enough money from this to give Kootenay County reason to have second thought, maybe even a first one before assaulting people, kidnapping them, etc.
In crimes where local law authorities are violating the law, the Feds often step in to exert their authority, so I'm sure AG Bondi will...oh never mind.
Its fine everybody, the sherriff is going to do an investigation of himself and get back to us. Nothing to see here. You can go about your business, citizens.