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.

ICE director refuses to resign under pressure from Eric Swalwell not to ‘side with killers’

Tillis rips ‘political lawfare’ and praises grand jury after Dems avoid charges in ‘illegal orders’ case

Trump Was Right: Bombshell FBI Affidavit Released, Lists 5 Jarring Irregularities in 2020 Georgia Vote Counts – Some Already ‘Substantiated’

Nancy Guthrie search stalls after authorities release detained suspect

Hypocrisy: Mainstream Media And NBA Stay Silent After Kevin Durant Tells Fan: ‘I Know Where You Live, White Boy’

Super Bowl Viewership Drops Year-Over-Year, Still Sets a Record

Olympic Medalist Makes Shocking Admission in Post-Event Interview: ‘Worst Week of My Life’

‘GOP’ House candidate admits she’s actually a progressive in viral video: ‘Telling people the truth’

Vance warns Iran that ‘another option on the table’ if nuclear deal not reached

Person questioned in Nancy Guthrie disappearance released after Arizona stop

Person detained for questioning in Nancy Guthrie case has been released and more top headlines

The surprising reason why Americans could face high beef prices for years

Breaking the Fourth Wall: Left-wing groups defiant as GOP sheds light on groups tied to China

Grand jury rejects DOJ effort to indict Democratic lawmakers who urged military to defy illegal orders

Key House committee advances nationwide voter ID bill, setting up 2026 election fight

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.”