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CHICAGO (AP) — An Illinois Republican congressman criticized for not holding in-person town halls says he remains opposed to them partly because of what fellow legislators have faced.
U.S. Rep. Peter Roskam said at a City Club of Chicago luncheon Monday that he's held just one large town hall since entering Congress in 2007. He added: "It was miserable. People came in angry and ... left angrier." He cited a town hall U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy held in Louisiana last month during which the Republican was jeered.
Roskam says he still engages with constituents, including holding 11 telephone town halls over the past year.
But some luncheon attendees clapped when Roskam was pressed about avoiding town halls.
Several dozen protesters outside were more explicit. One walked up to Roskam's car as he left, yelling: "You're a spineless coward."
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