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.

Convicted Murderer Karmelo Anthony Now Begging Supporters for Another $250,000

New Mexico’s Dem Governor Triggered After Trump Jokingly Suggests New Name for Her State

Radical Muslim Kills Gay Pro-Palestine Activist Outside Gay Bar

WJ Straw Poll: Rubio Surges to Commanding Lead, Vance Cruises Past Massie

Alleged cryptoscam ringleader set for plea hearing in $240M bitcoin theft

Sherrill anti-ICE policy hammered after fleeing migrant driver injures Dem mayor’s wife

New California Bill Could Completely Disqualify Former ICE Agents from Public Employment

‘We’re Scared, Very Scared’: Weeping Spanish Girl Reveals Heartbreaking Reality of Mass Migration from Africa

Sen Jim Justice finds way through Senate polarization to bring WWII hero memorial to DC

Israel’s ambassador says NYC’s Mamdani is ‘sowing chaos’ ahead of Netanyahu’s UN appearance

Gary Sinise 9/11 documentary wants to inspire Americans with hope

Florida AG seeks death penalty for couple who allegedly held 4 children in ‘rolling prison’ for nearly 7 years

Former USCIS official, accomplice charged in alleged $960K citizenship bribery scheme

Dramatic video captures floodwaters bursting through glass doors of college students’ home

Trump appears to debut darker hair, sparking online buzz

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.”