Republican Rep. Chris Stewart defended his record to a packed town hall Friday night at West High School, where he took questions on health care, public lands and investigating President Trump.
Stewart started by thanking the crowd of about 1,100 people for attending what he said was his 51st town hall since he took office in 2013.
But it was his first in-person forum since Trump’s election. The crowd was filled with displeased, sign-waving residents of the 2nd Congressional District — including members of newly formed groups like Salt lake Indivisible and Utahns Speak Out.
Stewart fielded questions for about an hour. He was booed for his opposition to the Bears Ears National Monument, as well as his support for repealing Obamacare and building a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border.
“Do I support the wall? Of course I do,” said Stewart to jeers.
The forum was only slightly less rowdy than one in February with Rep. Jason Chaffetz of Utah's 3rd District. Republicans across the country have faced heat from voters back home over Trump’s and the GOP’s agenda.
The event came just a week after the GOP pulled its plan to repeal and replace Obamacare, which Stewart had supported.
“What are you going to do to work with the Democratic party to fix health care and not throw the baby out with the bath water?” asked Miles Merrell, a self-described gay Mormon.
"I have actually tried to work across the aisle on a number of issues," said Stewart, though he didn't know if Trump would try to do the same.
He was also asked about his role on the House Select Intelligence Committee, which has been investigating possible connections between Trump’s presidential campaign and Russia.
“I have said from the beginning, if there’s evidence that someone has done criminal wrongdoing, we will turn that information over to the FBI and they will have to pursue it," he said.
Stewart promised he would continue to investigate Trump's ties with Russia before thanking the crowd and quickly exiting the stage.
