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.

Trump electrifies his base, but the nosebleeds are empty. Is it enough to win the midterms?

Trump makes convention pitch for Paxton: You may not like his looks, but he’s the best AG in Texas history

US forces obliterate suspected ‘narco-terrorist’ vessel in lethal Eastern Pacific strike, killing 3

Military Base Guards Cleared to Say ‘Have a Blessed Day’ After Pete Hegseth Steps in to Oppose ‘Radical Anti-Christian’ Group

Dem senator delivers surprise video at Republican convention backing McCormick

Jim Jordan to relinquish House Oversight and Judiciary gavels, stirring leadership speculation

HSI agent who investigated child exploitation cases indicted on rape and child abuse charges

Pastor Dies from Injury Suffered While Celebrating Son’s Wedding

Dem incumbent becomes first sitting governor to lose primary since 2018

Internet Demands Probe After Mitch McConnell’s Wife Reportedly Revealed to Have CCP Ties

Kentucky Ostrich Farm Offers Alternative for People Allergic to Red Meat After Tick Bites: ‘Similar to Steak’

Beauty school moms caught in accreditation crossfire as Trump admin weighs consequential decision

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announces distribution of more than 7 million free eggs statewide

Amy Acton cried on the job, once found ‘curled up’ on floor before COVID meeting during tenure as Ohio health official: Staffers

RNC leaves convention seat empty for Charlie Kirk one year after assassination

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.”