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.

Abdul el Sayed won the progressive fight. Now he must reunite Democrats to keep Michigan blue

EXCLUSIVE: Illegal immigrant’s hit-and-run on ‘kind’ elderly woman triggers ICE action: ‘Could hear screaming’

Rand Paul predicts Fauci contempt vote will pass, vows swift DOJ referral

Florida man allegedly attacked sister with machete while she was sleeping next to toddler daughter

Trump blasts Democratic socialist candidate as ‘full of s—‘ and Dems are skipping socialism ‘for communism’

Florida man accused of cutting off diver’s air supply in fight over coveted lobster diving spot

Bodycam video shows Canadian woman allegedly giving false name before deputies discovered 12 fake IDs

Federal judge acknowledges Supreme Court ruling clearing path for Trump to end Haiti TPS

Fauci’s HHS iPhone turned over to Senate investigators as contempt vote looms

Trans Star Jailed, Charged with Multiple Felonies Related to ‘Alleged Sexual Assault Involving a Juvenile’

Masked man caught on camera smashing Virgin Mary statue with a hammer outside NYC church

El-Sayed’s threat against GOP rival backfires as conservatives bring receipts: ‘Is Dubai in Florida’

Taxpayer-funded housing for illegal immigrants in GOP’s crosshairs: ‘It’s got to stop’

African Nation Names One of the Continent’s Largest Roads ‘Donald J. Trump Highway’

In Nevada speech, Trump chases after toddler on stage before joking he doesn’t want him to ‘be Biden and fall’

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.”