Michigan Democrat hears protests, cheers at town hall over impeachment support

Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) heard pushback from some voters but loud applause from others at a Monday town hall after the centrist congresswoman announced her support for the articles of impeachment against President Trump. 

Some cheered for Slotkin as she took the stage at a town hall in Rochester, Mich., but others booed and interrupted the Democrat during her speech further detailing why she is supporting Trump’s impeachment. 

Slotkin attempted to distance herself from her more left-leaning colleagues, pointing out that some of them came out in support of impeachment as soon as they were sworn in. She noted that she did not back an impeachment inquiry into Trump after former special counsel Robert Mueller testified on Russia’s 2016 election interference, but said the Ukraine controversy is a different matter. 

“I did not think the events of that, or the actions of that time, were worthy of an impeachment inquiry,” she said at the town hall, adding that at first she thought voters should decide Trump’s fate at the ballot box next year. 

“That changed for me on the very basic facts that the president of the United States came out, and his lawyer came out, and said very specifically that they had reached out to a foreign power and asked him for information on political rival,” Slotkin said. 

“That’s a lie,” someone in the crowd yelled out. 

Protesters were scattered in the audience, with some holding up Trump 2020 signs and posters calling to “Impeach Slotkin,” according to a livestream of the event and some clips shared by local reporters.

Rep. Elissa Slotkin event at Oakland University has more than a handful of Trump supporters who made their presence heard immediately. #Local4 pic.twitter.com/0Z8lg5ujgB

— «Jason Colthorp» (@JasonColthorp) December 16, 2019

And after the cheers and boos, Slotkin interrupted as she tried to begin the town hall pic.twitter.com/vXIhpUjAIV

— Brian Abel (@BrianAbelTV) December 16, 2019

Rep. Slotkin opens her remarks — following applause and boos— saying she’s glad to see such enthusiasm for civic engagement. pic.twitter.com/v8eiyxsR2G

— Beth LeBlanc (@DNBethLeBlanc) December 16, 2019

But Slotkin also heard roaring cheers and even a standing ovation as she pressed on through the protests to explain her decision, which she said was based on principle, not politics. 

Slotkin did not attempt to suppress the protests. She told the crowd she was “glad” to see “so much enthusiasm for civic engagement” and said the town hall was an example of what the Founding Fathers intended for America. 

The town hall was Slotkin’s fifth since September, but the first since announcing she would be voting in favor of impeachment in an op-ed in published in the Detroit Free Press on Monday. 

“Part of the reason that I’m here today is to demonstrate even if we don’t agree and there’s controversial things going on, I will always be here and always be available to listen,” Slotkin said.