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.

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

Iranians call for Trump’s death at funeral for assassinated ayatollah: ‘Seek revenge’

Trump shares news of ‘crystal clear’ Reflecting Pool, calls for vandalism suspect’s arrest

Bill Clinton blasts Trump as Americans mark nation’s 250th anniversary

Watch: UK Police Do It Again, Attack White Kid for Crime of Being Slammed on Ground by Black Kid

Watch a Gun-Range Officer Halt Some Hollywood Antics on the Spot

Here Are The Voters Backing Democratic Socialists

California Man Pleads Guilty to Harassing Guthrie Family With Fake Ransom Notes

Newsom blames Trump for DOJ probe, but reports say investigation predates his administration

Samuel Alito Warns Mail-In-Ballot Ruling Leaves Giant Opening For Voter Fraud

‘He Came And Stab Me’: Food Truck Pirates Turn National Mall Into A Lawless Mess

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.”