The Maine State House was evacuated on Friday morning following a bomb threat that mentioned two lawmakers.
Threats were made toward two legislators, as well as toward the State House and the Maine Democratic Party location at 320 Water St. in Augusta.
Capitol police were made aware of the threat at 7:15 a.m., and quickly shut down and evacuated the building. K9 dogs were brought in to search the building, and officials were not able to locate any explosives, either at the State House or the legislator’s homes.
The threat was deemed a hoax, and a message posted to the Legislature’s website at 8:47 a.m. Friday said people could return to the State House.
Maine Department of Public Safety spokesperson Shannon Moss did not identify the two lawmakers, but an emailed threat was reportedly sent to Rep. Anne Perry, D-Calais, and it also mentioned Sen. Donna Bailey, D-Saco.
Those two are sponsoring a “shield” bill to protect gender-affirming care and abortion providers and out-of-state patients from prosecution or litigation. The bill received a public hearing Tuesday, with conservatives criticizing its provisions that were added via a late amendment.
“This terrorism is a direct result of the lies those on the extreme right have been spreading about these policies,” Sen. Mike Tipping, D-Orono, said of the threats Friday.
The State House and legislatures in other states were also evacuated following hoax bomb threats in January. The communication and evacuation procedure in January drew criticism from lawmakers.
House Minority Leader Billy Bob Faulkingham, R-Winter Harbor, said Friday he sent a letter to Public Safety Commissioner Michael Sauschuck to reiterate his previous call in January for a “quick and thorough investigation” into the threats and “swatting” incident that targeted the home of Secretary of State Shenna Bellows in December after she ruled former President Donald Trump ineligible for Maine’s primary.
A spokesperson for Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, said he “takes threats to the safety and well-being of anyone who walks through the doors of the State House very seriously.”
“This recent development in our politics is deeply unsettling,” Jackson spokesperson Christine Kirby said. “It seems to be part of an unacceptable and alarming trend.”
