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.

Mamdani’s wife co-hosts luxe Muslim retreat casting Virgin Mary as ‘Palestinian woman’ under occupation

Trump says he’s Iran’s ‘No. 1’ target as renewed conflict raises assassination fears

Trump’s popularity among Israelis fades after Iran MOU

Could the Nevada governor’s race outcome run through Canada

Sanders under fire for propping up Platner as Dems torch his toxic endorsement ‘pattern’

WATCH: Dr. Oz says Newsom, other blue states have turned Medicaid fraud into a ‘feature’

The five days that made us believe in sports again

Tyler Robinson hearing: Top moments from explosive Lance Twiggs interview played in court

Florida man who contacted police about 1987 killing arrested in connection to cold case

Dramatic bodycam video captures NYPD officer rescuing woman from top of Brooklyn Bridge after emotional plea

Queens man arrested with Molotov cocktails after alleged arson attacks on Ozone Park and Woodhaven churches

Eight indicted over plan to attack White House UFC fight with drones and snipers

Israel shares intelligence warning Iran plotted new assassination attempt against Trump: report

Bank of America and JPMorgan Chase Consider Teaming Up for Scheme to Extract Higher Card Transaction Fees

Robinson’s Alleged Kirk Assassination Rifle and Chilling Messages on Bullet Casings Shown in Court

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.”