COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — Hundreds gathered at the Coeur d’Alene Resort on Saturday for the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee’s annual Lincoln Day Dinner.
However, this year’s keynote speaker proved to be controversial.
Former Congressman Matt Gaetz was invited to speak at the dinner, which prompted protests outside the resort from activism group Indivisible.
Gaetz was ousted from public service in 2024 over sexual allegations with a minor.
Protesters said inviting Gaetz into the Coeur d’Alene community was a disgrace.
“He’s not accepted in his own party, but how does he get to be a speaker of some value in the Republican Party in Coeur d’Alene?” asked protester Barbara Ostipwko.
In a Facebook post, the KCRCC defended its decision for Gaetz, explaining the choice was based on budget, logistics and in the interest of fairness.
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