Colorado county GOP cancels Kristi Noem fundraiser after receiving death threats

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is still facing the fallout from her dog-killing story after a Colorado county Republican group canceled a Saturday fundraiser she was set to headline after the group received death threats ahead of the event.

Jefferson County GOP Chair Nancy Pallozzi said in a statement Friday that Noem agreed to headline the annual fundraiser a month ago when the group had “no prior knowledge of the contents of the book.” But on Wednesday evening, Pallozzi said, the group and the governor's office “mutually decided” that the safety risk was too great.

“In the past few days, numerous threats and/or death threats have been made to our organization, the hotel, and to the Governor and her staff,” Pallozzi said in the statement. “The Denver West Marriott also received alarming comments and shared with us their deep concern over the safety and security for those attending our event, other guests, and their staff.”

Pallozzi also pointed to a protest that was slated to take place outside the fundraiser on Saturday hosted by a local chapter of ProgressNow, a progressive organization, who planned to show up to the event with signs and their pet dogs. A poster for the protest said, “Puppy killers are not welcomed in Colorado.”

“Our number one concern is safety for all, and when extremist organizations such as Progress Now organize a protest, the outcome is never good, and someone always gets hurt,” Pallozzi said in the statement, adding that they knew the event was going to be “affected by mainstream media coverage.”

Sara Loflin, executive director for ProgressNow Colorado, said in a statement to POLITICO that the organization doesn't condone any threats and called for a peaceful protest.

"We’re proud to have called for the well-behaved and leashed dogs of Colorado and their loving owners to peacefully protest against Gov. Noem’s fundraiser in Colorado," Loflin said in the statement. "The reason this fundraiser was canceled is that Kristi Noem’s values are not Colorado values, and organizers realized they were making a terrible political mistake bringing her here."

Pallozzi said in her statement the Jefferson County Republican Party is “not taking a position on the public outcry on the Governor’s book.”

Noem, who has been floated as a top contender for former President Donald Trump’s running mate, continues to face backlash after The Guardian published a story last week on her upcoming book, “No Going Back,” that detailed her decision to shoot and kill her 14-month-old dog, Cricket. Noem continues to defend her decision from 20 years ago as she faces bipartisan blowback.

A spokesperson for Noem did not comment on the event cancellation but pointed POLITICO to the statement from Pallozzi.

Noem is slated to return to Trump’s residence in Palm Beach, Fla., this weekend to address top-dollar donors at the Trump and Republican National Committee donor retreat. Noem is scheduled to speak on Saturday morning in a “breakfast conversation” with North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum that will be moderated by RNC Chair Michael Whatley.

The governor is also scheduled to appear on CBS’ “Face the Nation” on Sunday.