ETNA GREEN —  Congressmn Rudy Yakym’s staff continues to hold "Office Hours" throughout the district despite a momentarily chaotic meetings in Warsaw and Plymouth two months ago.

The "Office Hours" tradition is a way for staff to meet with constituents to talk about specific problems with federal services such as veterans benefits.

The lack of town halls, though has led some people to vent their frustrations at the "Office Hours" events.

While many congressional lawmakers — including Yakym — are refusing to hold large-scale town hall meetings, some elected officials, including U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz and Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith have done so recently and were assailed by large groups over President Donald Trump's wide-ranging policy changes put forth in recent months.

Despite some turbulence at the Warsaw meeting two months ago and another that same day in Plymouth, Yakym's office has continued to host office hours in different parts of the district.

Last month, staffers were back in Warsaw and faced numerous people who wanted to talk policy. And once again staff held one-one discussions in the city hall council chambers with folks who had policy concerns.

In Etna Green, Tuesday's one-on-one meetings with a Yakym staffer, Marty Schultz, were held in closed-door sessions in a room in the town hall building.

About five people attended Tuesday's meeting.

News Now Warsaw tried to talk with Schultz after everyone had had a chance to speak, but he refused to talk, directed questions to District Director Griffin Nate and then slammed the door of the room shut.

Nate, reached by phone, talked about the difficulties his staff has faced in recent weeks.

"We went to Plymouth (and) there were over 150 people who were screaming obscenities and it was absolutely absurd behavior," Nate said.

"This also follows two darn-near violent attacks on staffers at our office. Abusive language used against my team over and over and over again on the phone. I've had interns cussed out, screamed at. It's just been obscene."

Recent office hour events appear to have been more civil.

Nate was asked if the ongoing meetings represented a compromise of sorts.

He didn't answer that question but addressed the overall issue.

"We will continue to take feedback, but ... what we will not tolerate is when people cross the line and that's when I'm going to shut everything done is when people cross the line," he said.

He said he believes his staff has done a good job handling the situations.

He said he believed the turbulent meetings in Warsaw and Plymouth were coordinated and that to a certain degree, the same people have kept showing up.

Two people who had attended the Warsaw meeting two months ago were at the Etna Green meeting Tuesday and conveyed their concerns. Those were Kosciusko County Democratic Party Chairwoman and Don Guthrie who serves as vice chair.

Guthrie said he was there to voice his concerns as a constituent.

Guthrie said he was able to express his concerns but thought Schultz seemed more agitated compared to the last meeting held in Warsaw.

[caption id="attachment_108063" align="aligncenter" width="696"] Two of those who attended Tuesday's meeting in Etna Green were Kosciusko County Democratic Party Chairwoman Vicki Morton (L) and Don Guthrie, who serves as vice chair. Guthrie said he was there as a constituent. New Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

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WARSAW — Monday’s meeting in which about 25 people showed up in Waraw to voice concerns about federal spending cuts to a congressional staffer led to a statement being issued by Congressman Rudy Yakym’s office.

The meeting at Warsaw City Hall was intended to offer constituency services to residents, but those who showed up wanted to talk policy and demanded Yakym hold a town hall so residents could convey their concerns. 

[caption id="attachment_105711" align="alignright" width="370"] About 25-30 people attended the meeting at Warsaw City Hall Monday afternoon. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

The situation became heated for a short while with both sides saying they felt disrespected.

Brain Smith, a former chair of the Kosciusko County Democratic Party, said he didn't like how Yakym's district director talked to the group.

"I thought it was incredibly disrespectful to the veterans in the room, the way they were talked to — the way I was talked to at the beginning by the district representative — just a very unprofessional way and unbecoming for somebody who works for me," Smith said.

Yakym’s office issued a statement reiterating his "dedication to transparency" in serving all constituents.

“Congressman Yakym and our team are committed to accessibility and transparency, hosting monthly mobile office hours across the district so every constituent can connect and be heard,” said District Director Griffin Nate.

The statement was issued without directly mentioning Monday's meeting.

“We’re here to serve and represent all Hoosiers in the Second District — but we won’t stand for leftist lies meant to disrupt, disrespect, and intimidate,” he added.

Much of the concern voiced at Monday's meeting focused on Elon Musk who is serving as a key figure in the new Department of Government Efficiency, known as DOGE.

News Now Warsaw asked Nate Monday if Yakym is bothered by the approach used by Musk.

"The Congressman supports President Trump and his initiatives to bring efficiency to our government," Nate said.

"The American people made it clear in November that we are sick and tired of waste, fraud and abuse within our federal government. That's why they gave President Trump and the House Republicans a mandate to eliminate that waste, fraud and abuse."

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