Constituents call on U.S. Rep Stephen Lynch to join fellow Democrats in support of impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump.

BRAINTREE − The first question came from Vicky Ruvido of Braintree. It was one that U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch said he had been expecting.

Ruvido pointed out that more than 120 of Lynch's fellow Democrats support impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump.

"Why haven't you taken that stand?" she asked.

The question drew loud applause from many of the nearly 300 people who attended a frequently contentious town hall-style gathering held by the South Boston Democrat at Braintree Town Hall on Thursday night.

Lynch said he believes there are enough votes in the House to begin impeachment proceedings, but he thinks such proceedings would benefit Trump in the long run. If Trump is impeached by the House, he said, the president would then face a trial before the U.S. Senate, where the Republican majority would exonerate him.

"They've got the votes to acquit. And they will acquit him just before (next year's) election," Lynch said. "It will be a big show, a big production. You are going to give Donald Trump another four years and I don't want to do that."

He also fears what will happen if Trump gets the opportunity to name two more justices to the U.S. Supreme Court.

The congressman's response drew a mixture of applause and boos from the crowd. Some held up red cards with the message "#DoSomething."

The issues of impeachment and the border camps holding migrants dominated the forum, but also touched on a wide range of issues. The session ran nearly twice the scheduled two hours.

Lynch said he wants to see Trump removed from office in next year's election.

He said he is also on two congressional committees that are investigating Trump's conduct. Lynch said he has read the report issued by Special Counsel Robert Mueller a couple of times and doesn't think the evidence so far is strong enough for impeachment.

"I'm looking for more evidence. I'm not saying there's no evidence," Lynch said.

The congressman's answers did not satisfy Ruvido.

"I want to see the words Donald Trump and impeachment go together. That he will always have that attached to him," she said.

Asked what he saw as the three biggest threats facing the country, Lynch said he sees the divisiveness that Trump has promoted while in office as taking up all three.

"The way he has conducted himself and his policies have served to bring out the worst in people," Lynch said.

None of the constituents who spoke at the meeting sided with Lynch on impeachment.

"If Trump is not impeachable, no one is," said Elijah Collins, of Dorchester.

John Dinga, of Quincy, said he believes Lynch's impeachment stand is well out of touch with his constituents.

"The American people are very much against this president," Dinga said.

Others at the meeting called on Lynch to support closing the migrant detention camps on the Southern border. Lynch talked about his recent trip to the region, where he toured camps on both sides of the U.S./Mexico border. He said the administration is allowing migrants to enter the country to apply for asylum but is sending them back to Mexico to await their hearings.

"They are not addressing the problem. They have moved it back across the border," Lynch said.

He said the administration's family separation policy is "totally unacceptable" and practiced nowhere else in the world.

On the question of backing "Medicare for all" legislation, Lynch said he is "persuadable, but I am not yet persuaded."

Lynch was also criticized for not holding regular town hall meetings in his district. The congressman listed several public appearances over the last 19 months, most of them speeches at town meetings around the district. Lynch said he will do more forums, but said he wants to hold them in central locations in his district, which includes two dozen municipalities.