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.

Massachusetts Governor Signs New Law Blocking ICE Access to Several Locations

DSA Governor Candidate Hires OnlyFans Model as Deputy Campaign Manager

Florida man accused of killing nurse mom who helped him despite repeated arrests for threatening her: sheriff

Miss North Carolina USA pageant producers fire back after winner says she lost title over faith

WNBA Commissioner Announces League Is Reviewing Trans Inclusion After Former NBA Players Declare for Draft

Justice Department Settles With Pro-Life Father of 11 Whose Home They Busted Into

IN CHARTS: A visual breakdown of the Smithsonian’s billion-dollar taxpayer-funded budget

Socialists rising in Colorado? Send in the Marines, GOP nominee says

Why Stephen Miller thinks orders limiting birthright citizenship will go differently this time

EXCLUSIVE: Talarico caught on tape giggling about his church housing illegal immigrants set for deportation

Two dead, including infant, after boat capsizes in New York Harbor; 12 rescued

Teen accused of killing 10-year-old cousin Lily Peters may avoid November trial after new hearing scheduled

WATCH: Dems stand by Maine nominee hit with report he fathered children with his second cousin

Hawaii contractor nominated to construct GOP comeback after two-decade Democratic hold on governor’s mansion

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green cruises to Democratic primary win, sets up fall matchup with GOP nominee

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.”