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.

‘Black Woman Surrounded by White Nationalists’ Pic Blows Up in Left’s Face as 2nd Train Photo Goes Viral

Video: July 4 Nightmare – Multiple Black Punks Beat Stew Out of White Female Cop – Imagine if the Races Were Reversed

Trump says he ‘immediately overturned’ decision to cancel July 4 festivities in DC

Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History promotes ‘extreme political activism,’ WH report alleges

New York Harbor whale strike sinks fire rescue boat after July 4 celebrations

Accused Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson fights back against state’s evidence and more top headlines

Unrelenting war in Ukraine sees skyrocketing death toll in fifth year

Federal crime task force sent to Memphis tops 10,000 arrests

Idaho mom who claimed vaccines killed her twin babies charged with murdering her kids

Accused Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson fights back as prosecutors’ sprawling case comes into focus

NYC health officials warn Central Park visitors after Legionnaires’ outbreak grows on Upper East Side

Pilot declares mayday before seaplane comes down in New York City’s East River

Toddler declared dead after near-drowning was found alive in hospital morgue hours later, police say

Michigan Democrat Mallory McMorrow drops out of Senate race weeks before primary

NYPD detective, children shot in separate Brooklyn shootings over holiday weekend

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.”