El Paso County GOP increases security at watch party following recent threats

As crowds gathered to watch Tuesday nights GOP debate, the El Paso County Republican Party increased security at their watch party.

“I want everyone here to feel perfectly safe and everyone should,” said Daniel Cole, executive director of the El Paso County Republican Party.

The heightened security comes following two recent threats against local Republicans.

“We get crazy messages from time to time, after this ACLU story broke, I’ve been receiving some unsavory tweets,” said Cole.

Both of the threats happened over the past week. Most recently when a Colorado Springs ACLU chairman made comments about shooting Trump supporters then later resigned.

“I think he was just being an idiot, running his mouth and his friends we’re telling him. Was it really a threat? I doubt it,” said Charlie Ehler, candidate for U.S. Senate.

The second threat came from a Fountain woman. Fern Delise, 54, called a Planned Parenthood office in Denver saying, “It’s tempting to walk into a Republican party meeting with my dead husband’s gun and start shooting people.” Delise was later arrested and scheduled to appear in court Wednesday.

“You’d have to be crazy or stupid to attack a republican party meeting but there are a few crazy and stupid people out there,” said Cole.

“I think with threats now a days you can’t be too careful. Unfortunately, there’s a lot of things going on around the world,” said Joshua Hosler, candidate for House District 15.

The increased security was noticeable and put some at ease.

“I think that we have enough concealed carry people present that I don’t feel much about it but it’s nice to have the sheriff with us,” said Holly Villa.

The watch party was held at Stargazers Theater & Event Center.