ST. GEORGE, Utah – Utah Rep. Chris Stewart faced an angry crowd during a town hall meeting in St. George Friday, and some in attendance questioned the congressman about the death of LaVoy Finicum—who was shot and killed during the standoff in Oregon.
Stewart was hosting a town hall in southern Utah Friday, where he took questions from constituents. He quickly found that the room was packed with people who believe Finicum was illegally gunned down by authorities. Video courtesy of St. George News shows some of that dialogue.
“Anybody with open eyes can look at that video and see he was shot with his hands up,” St. George resident William Lehman said during the town hall.
Stewart responded to questions regarding Finicum by saying it’s important to allow the legal process to continue.
“We’ve been as involved as we could be, but we have to let the legal process play out as best we can,” he said. “If at the end of the legal process, if we think there are unanswered questions, then of course I would support some type of congressional inquiry.”
Many who were attending the town hall had traveled from Nevada, and among them was Michelle Fiore, a Nevada state assembly woman who famously had an hours long phone conversation with Oregon occupiers broadcast live on YouTube the day they surrendered.
The Malheur District Attorney’s Office has ruled that the shooting of Finicum was legally justified. The FBI previously released footage from the incident, saying that when Finicum was shot he was reaching for a pocket that contained a 9 mm handgun.
Earlier this month, protesters gathered at the Utah State Capitol to honor Finicum and his message, which they say is about standing up for constitutional rights.
