Oregon Senate Session Canceled After Militia Threat

Senate floor sessions were planned for this weekend, but Saturday’s session was canceled after militia groups threatened to show up at the Capitol in Salem, state Sen. Elizabeth Steiner Hayward tweeted Friday evening.

Oregon State Police confirmed to KATU that Saturday’s session was called off. The Associated Press reported a spokeswoman for Senate President Peter Courtney said state police recommended the Capitol be closed Saturday.

For the last two days, Senate Republicans have staged a walkout in protest over a controversial cap and trade bill Democrats say is needed to curb human-caused climate change. The walkout has denied the Senate a quorum.

In her tweet, Steiner Hayward, a Democrat, attached a text message informing members to stay clear of the Capitol.

After media began reporting on her tweet, Steiner Hayward deleted it. But before she did, KATU News had grabbed a screen capture of it.

Before this week’s walkout, rhetoric became heated and Republican state Sen. Brian Boquist made threatening remarks toward other lawmakers and OSP troopers as Gov. Kate Brown and Senate Democrats considered calling in state police to bring missing senators back into the Senate chamber.

Democrats Push to Fly Spy Drones Over Your Property to Enforce Their Green Agenda, Punish Regulation Violators

Detroit judge, 3 others charged in alleged scheme to steal thousands from vulnerable and incapacitated people

Unearthed photo of Swalwell meeting with top CCP official raises alarm bells: ‘Very disturbing’

Lindsey Graham Holds Up Trump-Backed Bill to Crack Down on Sanctuary Cities

Clinton Contempt Vote Set for Next Week: Will Justice Be Served?

Epstein Helped Fund Lavish Lifestyle for Former Obama WH Counsel Who Gave Him Legal Advice

Salman Rushdie refuses to be ‘diverted’ by terrorism after surviving near-fatal stabbing attack

From Obama award to Minnesota op: Why Trump tapped Tom Homan for on-the-ground crackdown

House GOP majority on the brink as all-Democrat Texas special congressional election underway

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and AG Keith Ellison Set to Testify Before Congress About Massive Fraud Allegations

Conservative group blasts LinkedIn for removing pro-ICE post, labeling it ‘hateful’

Famed filmmaker presses Democrats to put ‘citizen-led’ presidential primary first

He’s Not Joking: Jim Acosta Claims Don Lemon Was Arrested Because He’s Black

New Jersey governor to launch portal for uploading videos of ICE tactics: ‘They have not been forthcoming’

LAPD arrests violent agitators after protests erupt outside federal detention center in Los Angeles

Courtney and House Speaker Tina Kotek, both Democrats, issued a joint statement Friday afternoon condemning Boquist’s remarks.

“We strongly condemn the comments made this week in the Oregon State Capitol by Senator Brian Boquist threatening lawmakers and Oregon State Police troopers. Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every day in the name of protecting Oregonians and should never be subject to these kinds of threats, let alone from a public official. His comments have created fear among employees in our workplace. We will always defend free speech and welcome frank policy discussions, but threats like these are unacceptable.”

When Republicans began their walk out Thursday, Brown called in state troopers to find the senators and bring them back to the Senate, but most have reportedly left the state.

Shortly after it was announced the Senate had canceled its Saturday session, the Oregon Republican Party tweeted the Democrats had canceled the session because of a “fear that Republican voters may show up.”