The Oregon statehouse closed on Saturday due to a “possible militia threat” as Republican legislators in the state refuse to vote on a major climate change bill, The Hill reports.
"Oregon State Police has recommended that the Capitol be closed tomorrow due to a possible militia threat,” a spokeswoman for the Oregon state Senate President told the Associated Press.
Oregon State Police said in a statement that they are “monitoring information throughout the day that indicates the safety of legislators, staff and citizen visitors could be compromised if certain threatened behaviors were realized.”
According to the AP, unnamed “right-wing militia groups” were seen protesting outside the statehouse on Saturday, though it’s unknown if this was related to the alleged threat.
The Oregon state GOP attempted to make light of the situation in a tweet on Saturday, writing that “Senate Democrats cower in fear” as a “Heavily armed militia lays siege to Oregon's Capitol,” along with a picture of an unrelated protest from the week before.
Gov. Kate Brown, a Democrat, has attempted to force Republican lawmakers to return to the statehouse, threatening them with a $500 fine for each day they don’t return.
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