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.

Trump’s TSA Executive Order Appears to Have Had Immediate Impact at Busiest Airports

Trump Reveals New White House Ballroom Will Have a ‘Massive,’ Hidden Military Purpose

Providence mayor calls for removal of Iryna Zarutska mural, says intent is ‘divisive,’ ‘misguided’

Video shows latest Los Angeles street takeover as mob wreaks havoc, vandalizes occupied city bus

Emanuel pushes back on ‘straight White man’ question, says ideas matter most in 2028

Watchdog targets taxpayer-funded National Academies over DEI, climate and transgender spending

Police arrest dozens after LA No Kings graffiti urges ICE killings

Houthis’ entry into Iran war could have significant reverberations

Insider Reports Secret Service Has Tight Restrictions on Tiger Woods and Trump’s Grandkids

Supposed NATO Ally Spain Closes Airspace to US Flights, Calls Action in Iran ‘Profoundly Illegal’

Russian aid to Iran expanding Middle East conflict, Europe warns

Senators defend two-week recess as record-breaking government shutdown drags on

Joe Kent urges Americans to oppose US ground troops in Iran war

Scorned ex-lover accuses Sinema of ‘malicious’ marriage interference

Taiwanese opposition leader agrees to meet Xi Jinping ahead of Trump summit

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.”