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 ESPN and NBC Sideline Reporter Michele Tafoya Triumphs in GOP Senate Primary

Breaking: Inflation Rate Drops, Defying Economist Projections

Blakeman cuts into Hochul’s New York governor’s race lead in new poll, as likely voters give DSA judgment

Spanberger’s rough rural reception draws Hillary Clinton parallels

Taiwan throttles internet to test ‘communications resilience’ during annual anti-China military drills

‘No better group’: Veteran says special ops should get same concealed carry permit as retired cops

Ex-New Jersey mayor, her husband charged for using fake ballot signatures after she pleaded guilty to DUI

Kansas Democratic governor nominee suggested Jesus could have been transgender

Heroic Florida K-9 returns to sheriff’s office days after being shot protecting 3 deputies, losing leg

STATE OF PLAY: Highly watched Hong race remains too close to call as progressives notch key primary wins

Five teen friends killed after vehicle plunges down Colorado cliff, leaving community shattered

Ilhan Omar on track for fifth term as Minnesota voters maintain far-left streak

Schumer dealt another blow as progressive insurgency scores win in key Senate battle

Trump-backed Mike Lindell falls to Lisa Demuth in Minnesota governor primary

Minnesota House speaker Lisa Demuth wins GOP gubernatorial primary to replace Tim Walz in November

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.”