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.

Wall Street banks helped Chinese military-linked firm raise billions despite red flags, lawmakers find

Republicans recoil as Trump’s billion-dollar DOJ ‘slush fund’ for allies threatens ICE, Border Patrol plan

Manhunt underway after woman allegedly assaulted inside Harvard dorm, suspect spotted at MIT: officials

Fox News ‘Antisemitism Exposed’ Newsletter: Mamdani snubs the Jews again

‘A Day I Hoped Would Not Come’: Susie Wiles Laments as Key Official Exits White House

Netanyahu’s ‘Hair Was on Fire’ After Clashing with Trump in ‘Difficult’ Call on Latest Iran Proposal: Report

A Pastor Preached John 3:16: The Government Called It a Crime

Dem Senate Candidate Graham Platner Once Delighted in Clip of Purple Heart Veteran Being Shot and Almost Killed

Legal expert unleashes on Spanberger’s new executive order targeting ICE: ‘Political theater’

Former White House envoy has warning for Trump on how not to get played by Iran

First, the Strait of Hormuz — what choke point could be next?

Colorado Democrats formally censure Gov Polis over Tina Peters commutation

Brooklyn mother who drowned her three children in the ocean near Coney Island sentenced to decades in prison

Former DOJ prosecutor charged with stealing confidential Jack Smith investigation documents about Trump

String of burglaries rocking LA residential area committed by South American gangs, DA says

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.”