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.

‘Have You Called 911?’ Tommy Tubberville Shares Details on Lindsey Graham’s Tragic Final Moments

Watch: Today They’d Call This White Supremacist, Christian Nationalist Propaganda – In the 1980s It Was a Typical Razor Ad

These states are ‘ahead of the game’ in bringing down home prices, Trump’s housing chief says

Trump to shrink 2 Utah national monuments by 90%

Deputy US Marshal fatally shot while serving arrest warrant in Louisiana

Dog accidentally turns on toaster, sparking Maryland house fire that killed 3 family pets

Hegseth announces joint task force with DOJ to prosecute leaks to journalists ‘with the full force of the law’

Mamdani offers few answers as massive homeless encampment sprouts in west Manhattan

Historic Video: US Deployed First-Ever Sea-Based Drones to Blow Apart Submarine and Ship Facility in Iran

What to know about Darline Graham Nordone, South Carolina’s newest senator

Democrats running to replace Platner in key Senate race call for ICE to be ‘abolished’

Breaking: Trump to Address the Nation This Week in Prime-Time Comments

Trump-backed Daylight Saving Time bill clears key House hurdle

Maine ICE shooting victim was not target of arrest warrant, Sen. King’s office says after earlier DHS account

Top economists and AI leaders warn of ‘unprecedented transformation’

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.”