Take Back Idaho Condemns Harassment and Intimidation of Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen
Take Back Idaho stands united in condemning the targeted harassment and intimidation of Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen (R-Idaho Falls), a respected member of the Idaho House of Representatives and a pillar of East Idaho’s farming community. The recent actions of Ada County GOP Vice-Chair Ryan Spoon, in collaboration with John Heida of Stop Idaho RINOs, represent an unacceptable escalation of political extremism and an affront to the values of integrity and respect that define Idahoans.
Spoon’s statements, such as, “Here is a list of Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen's businesses for @ICEgov to raid,” blatantly encourage harassment and potentially dangerous confrontations at Mickelsen Farms. This reckless behavior has no place in Idaho politics.
By weaponizing federal law enforcement mechanisms without evidence, Spoon undermines public trust in the legal system and risks inciting hate crimes. Idaho Code § 18-6710 makes it a criminal offense to knowingly make false reports to law enforcement, yet Spoon has publicly admitted to filing reports against Rep. Mickelsen’s farm and urging others to do the same.
This attack serves as a warning to other legislators: fall in line with the Idaho Freedom Foundation’s extremist agenda or face similar harassment. It’s a bullying tactic designed to coerce votes and silence dissent, striking at the heart of representative democracy. If allowed to persist unchecked, such behavior will corrode the integrity of the Idaho House of Representatives. Legislators must be able to perform their duties without fear of retaliation. The targeted harassment of Rep. Mickelsen sets a dangerous precedent that undermines the independence and courage required of public servants to stand up for their principles and the constituents they represent.
The use of baseless allegations and intimidation tactics, particularly those with racial overtones, creates a hostile environment where legislators may feel coerced into compliance with extremist groups to avoid similar attacks. This diminishes the House’s ability to function as a body of thoughtful deliberation and debate and erodes public confidence in the legislative process.
Long-time ACRCC precinct committee officer Cheryl Miller reacted to Spoon's behavior toward Rep. Mickelsen; “These actions are beneath the dignity of a county Republican leader who is tasked with electing Republican representatives, not inciting violence against them.”
Jennifer Ellis, an East Idaho rancher and Chair of Take Back Idaho, strongly condemned these actions. She stated, “This type of behavior—targeting a legislator and their family with baseless accusations to incite fear, racial hatred, and political coercion—is unacceptable in any context, but especially when it comes from the leadership of the Idaho Republican Party. As an East Idaho rancher, I know the value of hard work and honesty in our farming and ranching communities. These reckless attacks not only endanger Rep. Mickelsen and her family but also insult the integrity of Idaho’s agricultural industry and our Hispanic neighbors who contribute so much to our state.”
Take Back Idaho is calling on state leaders to take immediate action to address this dangerous behavior. Ellis continued, “Elected officials should not face this kind of harassment and intimidation from within their own party, especially when it borders on incitement of hate crimes. Take Back Idaho calls on Governor Brad Little, Speaker of the House Mike Moyle, and the Idaho State Police to take immediate action to protect Rep. Mickelsen from these dangerous and unethical tactics. Our legislative process must be free from coercion and fear, and we demand accountability from those who engage in such behavior.”
As former Speaker of the House Bruce Newcomb explains, “People, especially legislators, need to be careful when casting aspersions toward other legislators because the rule used to be when I was Speaker, if a complaint was filed the Speaker had no choice but to convene an ethics committee. Beyond that one can run up some huge legal bills defending a defamation suit.”
Spoon’s and Heida’s actions may also violate Idaho’s defamation laws, as defined in Idaho Code § 6-701, which prohibit making false statements with the intent to harm an individual’s reputation. Furthermore, their incitement of targeted harassment could lead to charges under Idaho’s harassment statutes, such as Idaho Code § 18-7901, which criminalizes intentional acts that cause substantial emotional distress or fear of physical harm. By encouraging others to “report” Mickelsen’s farm, Spoon and Heida exploit political divisions to stoke racial animosity and create fear within Idaho’s Hispanic population. These acts serve no purpose other than to intimidate, divide, and distract from the real issues facing Idaho.
“Ryan Spoon's doxing of Representative Stephanie Mickelsen is reprehensible. Rep. Mickelsen is a successful businesswoman and a remarkably courageous legislator. Spoon's vicious, but juvenile, reporting of Mickelsen to federal immigration authorities is totally unjustified and may well be actionable in court. Mickelsen incurred the wrath of Spoon and his extremist sidekicks for standing up to GOP bosses who tried to make her do their bidding, rather than speaking for her constituents. He has presented no grounds for siccing ICE agents on her and her businesses. I would advise her to seek legal counsel to bring Spoon to account.”
-Former Idaho Attorney General Jim Jones
Take Back Idaho reaffirms its commitment to supporting leaders who promote integrity, honesty, and respect—values that Idahoans hold dear. We call on all Idahoans to reject the politics of intimidation and hate and stand in solidarity with Rep. Mickelsen, her family, and innocent employees as they face these baseless attacks.
Allowing this kind of behavior to go unchecked risks eroding the foundational principles of our democratic institutions. Idaho’s leaders must act decisively to hold perpetrators accountable and ensure that the Idaho House of Representatives remains a place where legislators can serve their constituents free from fear of retaliation.
Let us remain vigilant against those who seek to undermine our freedom through tyrannical actions. Idaho deserves better.
About the Author
This article was written by Take Back Idaho, a grassroots organization dedicated to preserving Idaho’s core values of integrity, honesty, and respect. Take Back Idaho works to support ethical leadership and combat extremism to ensure a brighter future for all Idahoans.
My question is - why am I reading about a group of citizens "condemning" these alleged illegal activities instead of reading about some law enforcement official, legal authority, initiating an investigation into alleged illegal activities by the Ada County GOP?