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.

Iran’s New Supreme Leader ‘Misfunctioning’: Report

WATCH: Sen. Mullin Tears up During Confirmation Hearing While Sharing What Trump Told His Son About Love After He Experienced a Traumatic Brain Injury

Trump threatens key Iranian gas field after Israeli strike

EXCLUSIVE: House Republicans to hold hearing on DHS shutdown risks amid travel surge

Chinese surrogacy boom in America raises novel birthright citizenship questions

Talarico claims to oppose big businesses’ influence while benefiting from it

‘Tell me to my face’: Top moments in Mullin’s heated confirmation hearing to be Trump’s next DHS chief

Israel’s relentless Iran regime change campaign complicates US hopes of negotiating

NYPD officer assigned to Mayor Mamdani’s security suspended after off-duty shooting

Trump continues to push for release of Tina Peters as Colorado governor weighs clemency

Colorado school staffer accused of sexually abusing 13-year-old student, now on the run

State Department to ask for bonds of up to $15,000 for visa applications from a dozen more countries

Former counterterrorism chief Joe Kent under FBI investigation for alleged classified leaks

‘Theatrical fools’: House GOP slams Democrats for blowing off Bondi interview

186 Democrats Kick and Scream as Critical Bill Targeting Fraudsters Narrowly Passes House

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.”