Escorted Out, Cut Off, Ignored: What Really Happened at Pingree’s Town Hall

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 15, 2025

Contact: contact@blueanchorproject.com

Escorted Out, Cut Off, Ignored: What Really Happened at Pingree’s Town Hall

WESTBROOK, ME — After eight years without an in-person town hall, Congresswoman Chellie Pingree finally faced her constituents—because of direct pressure from the Blue Anchor Project and other organizations. Her return to the district wasn’t voluntary. It was the result of sustained calls for transparency and public accountability.

While we appreciate her decision to finally show up, what unfolded in Westbrook was not a demonstration of leadership. It was a failure of it.

From the outset, it was clear this was not a genuine attempt at public dialogue. It was a staged event—moderated by her own chief of staff, who tightly controlled the mic and cut off speakers mid-question if they spoke for more than a minute. When the questions got tough, the answers got vague—or the speakers got removed.

One young person was escorted out of the auditorium by police after asking Pingree a direct, factual question:

“I want my representatives to speak in plain language and with passion. Do you acknowledge that the federal government is run by Nazis who are sending people to concentration camps?”

They were referring to Donald Trump’s widely reported plan to convert Guantanamo Bay into what is, in essence, a concentration camp—used not just to detain undocumented immigrants, but to target U.S. citizens and activists who speak out against him. ICE has already begun rounding up innocent people simply to remove those seen as politically inconvenient. But Pingree refused to say the word. She dodged the question entirely, choosing vague language instead of moral clarity. She wouldn’t name it, and she wouldn’t name who’s responsible.

Why? Because she didn’t want to upset the White House?

Rather than defend the constituent’s right to speak, Pingree allowed her Chief of Staff, Jesse Connolly, to order her removal by police. As the woman was being removed, she was followed by police. Pingree stood by and refused to intervene, watching as a young woman was forcibly removed for demanding the truth.

The crowd responded immediately—booing loudly as the person was voluntarily escorted out. They knew exactly what they were witnessing: a sitting member of Congress choosing political comfort over moral courage.

There was no passion in her defense of democracy—only in removing the people demanding it. She didn’t want to be there, and it showed.

Later, another constituent—an intersex person—tearfully asked why their community continues to be ignored. Pingree’s Chief of Staff, Jesse Connolly, cut them off mid-question—continuing the pattern of tightly controlling the discussion. Pingree then dodged, deflected, and semi-ignored their valid concerns. Once again, it was the audience—not the congresswoman—who stepped up: they gave a standing ovation and offered comfort that never came from their representative.

When challenged on her failure to act, Pingree told the audience: “Some days I don’t even want to get out of bed.” Throughout the night, she repeatedly referenced her 18 years in office, showed no urgency, and seemed disinterested in continuing the work. At one point, she even said that older politicians should step aside for younger leadership—only to immediately follow it up by declaring: “I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.”

The contradiction was impossible to ignore: she’s tired, disengaged, believes others should step aside—but refuses to do so herself.

Despite dozens of constituents still lined up to ask questions, Pingree abruptly ended the event at 7:30 p.m. No explanation. No apology. Just a dismissal of the very people who came seeking answers. Other leaders—those with integrity—stay until every voice is heard. Pingree got tired, fed up with being held accountable, and walked away. Maybe she thought this evening was going to be easy?

As the crowd was leaving, constituents were openly voicing what many had come to realize: Chellie Pingree is no longer fit to serve.

The Blue Anchor Project is openly calling for a primary challenge to Congresswoman Chellie Pingree. What we saw in Westbrook made one thing clear: she can no longer represent the people of Maine in good faith. We urge leaders, organizers, and everyday citizens who believe in truth, transparency, and justice to step forward.

We’ll continue to uplift the voices of voters who’ve been ignored and demand representatives who show up, listen, and fight.

If Pingree won’t, someone else will—and they won’t need to be forced to show up.