GOP Rep. Granger Cancels Town Hall Meetings Due to 'Threats'

Rep. Kay Granger, R-Texas, said she will not hold town hall meetings in her home district of Fort Worth this summer because it is too dangerous.

Her comments were reported by the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

"I wish we could have a town hall meeting and engage with others," said Granger, who chairs the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee. "There are so many threats going on."

Her comments came just weeks after a gunman wounded House Majority Whip Steven Scalise, R-La., and four others while they prepared for a charity softball game, the newspaper noted.

"Obviously we are living in a time where incivility has kind of run rampant," said Jim Riddlesperger, a political science professor at Texas Christian University. "Ninety-seven percent of people have perspective and don't go crazy. But it's that one rogue person.

"Members of Congress have the right to be concerned."

And she is not the first lawmaker to stop town hall meetings.

Rep. Tom MacArthur, R-N.J., reportedly halted the meetings because the events were being "hijacked" by groups hostile to President Donald Trump.

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