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.

Minnesota taxpayers on the hook for race-based teacher recruitment

US conducts strike on another boat carrying suspected narco-traffickers, killing 6 people

Pennsylvania state trooper fatally shot during traffic stop, officials say

Before-and-after satellite imagery offers a rare look at damage inside Iran

Police swarm NYC street Sunday amid IED probe near Gracie Mansion

Police recover third device in ongoing Manhattan IED investigation after two arrests

GOP senators push back against Schumer’s ‘Jim Crow 2.0’ description of SAVE Act

NYPD confirms object thrown at protests near Gracie Mansion in Manhattan was an IED

Officials confirm devices recovered at NYC protest near Gracie Mansion were both IEDs

Pro-Islam counterprotester arrested after deploying explosive device outside Mamdani residence

Trump warns Iran’s new leader won’t ‘last long’ without his approval

Air Force veteran warns ‘cartels don’t collapse — they fracture’ after notorious drug lord killed

The unlikely tool Trump is eyeing to tackle rising oil prices amid the Iran conflict

Trump’s Name Will Be on the Tallest Tower in Australia as Trump’s Company Makes International Real Estate Move

Another ‘Day in the Life’ Video Shows Cushy Conditions at Tech Company

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.”