--- description: Gubernatorial candidate Lee Whitnum was arrested after crashing a debate for Democratic candidates in Brookfield, CT., on Monday night title: Gubernatorial Candidate Dragged Offstage By Police image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd6432f81d8a331c9/69892ba4bc6cfc553d3e56d8/gettyimages-908848584.jpeg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [U.S.](/section/us/) ## U.S. Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # Candidate for Governor Dragged Off Stage by Police After Trying to a Crash a Forum by [Flora Carr](/author/flora-carr/) ## Flora Carr Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 10, 2018 12:27 PM CUT  The U.S. Capitol is seen in Washington, DC on January 22, 2018 after the US Senate reached a deal to reopen the federal government, with Democrats accepting a compromise spending bill. The U.S. Capitol is seen in Washington, DC on January 22, 2018 after the US Senate reached a deal to reopen the federal government, with Democrats accepting a compromise spending bill.MANDEL NGAN—AFP/Getty Images by [Flora Carr](/author/flora-carr/) ## Flora Carr Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Apr 10, 2018 12:27 PM CUT Gubernatorial candidate Lee Whitnum was arrested after crashing a debate held for [Democratic candidates](http://time.com/5224764/donald-trump-white-house-easter-egg-roll-politics/ "undefined") in Brookfield, Conn., on Monday night, forcing police officers to drag her offstage. The candidates’ debate at Brookfield High School was organized by the Brookfield Democratic Town Committee, who had previously told Whitney, [a long-shot candidate](http://www.courant.com/politics/hc-pol-whitnum-brookfield-cops-20180409-story.html "undefined") who had once called Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) a “whore” during a televised debate, that she was unwelcome at the event, [according to](https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Gubernatorial-Candidate-Removed-From-Brookfield-Debate-by-Police-479223303.html "undefined") NBC Connecticut. Her surprise appearance onstage alongside the seven candidates for governor was [captured](https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Gubernatorial-Candidate-Removed-From-Brookfield-Debate-by-Police-479223303.html "undefined") by television channel News 12. In footage of the incident posted on social media, Whitnum appears to grip the table onstage and refuses to stand up, while shouting, “I am a Democratic candidate for governor!” She is then forcibly removed by two officers, who are applauded by the audience as they drag Whitnum by the ankles. After Whitnum is removed, the other candidates return onstage. > [](https://twitter.com/ctblogger/status/983539292105592832) “I had every right to be at that debate,” Whitnum said in a later statement. “I am a declared candidate for governor. My paperwork was filed more than a year ago. I told them I would be attending.” Whitnum was arrested on breach of peace charges and trespassing, and was released on a $500 bail. She is due to appear in court on April 19. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5234424/gubernatorial-lee-whitnum-arrested/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5234424/gubernatorial-lee-whitnum-arrested/"},"headline":"Candidate for Governor Dragged Off Stage by Police After Trying to a Crash a Forum","datePublished":"2018-04-10T12:27:59.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-23T19:55:22.044Z","description":"\"I am a Democratic candidate for governor!\"","url":"https://time.com/5234424/gubernatorial-lee-whitnum-arrested/","keywords":["democrats","politics","onetime"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd6432f81d8a331c9/69892ba4bc6cfc553d3e56d8/gettyimages-908848584.jpeg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Flora Carr","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/flora-carr/"}],"articleSection":"U.S.","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltd6432f81d8a331c9/69892ba4bc6cfc553d3e56d8/gettyimages-908848584.jpeg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"TOPSHOT-US-POLITICS-SHUTDOWN-CAPITOL","caption":"TOPSHOT-US-POLITICS-SHUTDOWN-CAPITOL","creditText":"MANDEL NGAN—AFP/Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/us/","name":"U.S."}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/5234424/gubernatorial-lee-whitnum-arrested/","name":"Candidate for Governor Dragged Off Stage by Police After Trying to a Crash a Forum"}}]}] ```