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.

Watch: DEI-Obsessed Sky News Reporter Claims Moon Landings by ‘All White Men’ Didn’t Represent Humanity

Pro-Lifers Shred Trump Admin’s Biden-Era Title X Extension as ‘Inexplicable Slap in the Face’

Trump requests over $10 billion for DC infrastructure and National Guard deployment

Colorado lawyers say court e-file system now makes them certify they won’t assist ICE

Patel, McCormick warn foreign terror threats inside US grew during Biden years

Illegal immigrant accused of murdering wife in Texas just weeks after marriage, ICE fights release

Legendary Fleetwood Mac Guitarist Lindsey Buckingham Attacked with ‘Unknown Substance’ in California

‘It’d Be Better Not to Talk About it at All’: Mamdani’s Good Friday Message Draws Backlash from Christians

Fox News True Crime Newsletter: Ted Bundy unmasked, Guthrie sheriff dragged to hot seat, Hawaii doc testifies

Final charge dropped in yearslong Harris-era case against pro-life activist

DOJ poised to appeal after judge affirms block on Powell subpoenas

Vance tapped as ‘fraud czar’ as Trump targets blue states over taxpayer theft

Here’s who Trump could choose as his next attorney general after firing Bondi

White House Calls for Historic Increase in Military Spending in 2027 Budget Proposal

Watch: Trump Shares Video of Iran’s Tallest Bridge Crumbling, Warns Regime of More Strikes to Come

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.”