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.

Former Kentucky cheerleader indicted on manslaughter charge after newborn son found dead in closet

Sheriff running Nancy Guthrie case responds after report reveals unseemly exit from first policing job

Three cargo ships damaged by ‘projectiles’ in Strait of Hormuz

US Moves Against Iranian Mine Ships, Sinks Over a Dozen: Reports

Texas conservatives tout record-breaking school choice signups after long battle with teachers unions

Scott moves to bypass teachers unions, send federal school funds straight to parents if classrooms close

Wanted on 59 Counts of Rape and Child Sex Crimes: One of Those Illegals Dems Care More About Than Americans Was Just Nabbed by NC Cops

New Twist in Epstein Guard’s Saga – Large Mystery Deposits Showed Up in Her Bank Account Leading Up to Just Before His Death, Interesting Google Searches Also

Spanish Court Orders Madrid to Create Registry of Doctors Who Refuse to Perform Abortions

Former Freedom Caucus chair Bob Good blasts Trump’s endorsement record: ‘Trump IS the problem’

Tom Cotton puts Biden on notice while demanding answers on draining of nation’s oil stockpile

Johnson pushes reconciliation 2.0 with no clear plan and Trump’s focus elsewhere

Lindsey Graham’s war rhetoric complicates Trump’s push to calm MAGA base

Beloved 75-year-old math teacher found dead inside Baltimore elementary school

FBI arrests alleged MS-13 member accused in El Salvador pastor’s killing

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.”