Maine State House evacuated after hoax bomb threats against legislators, Democratic Party

The Maine State House was evacuated Friday morning after a member of the Legislature received an email with threats against two legislators, the Capitol Building and the Maine Democratic Party, which is located on Water Street in Augusta. 

Maine Capitol Police were notified about the threat around 7:15 a.m., according to a news release from the Department of Public Safety. About 100 people were in the State House when it was shut down so K9 teams from the Maine State Police Bomb Unit could clear the building.

Capitol Police coordinated with the Augusta Police Department and other local agencies to clear the homes of the two legislators and the Water Street location, the release said. No one was injured and no explosives were found at any location. 

The threat was deemed to be a hoax, the release said.

According to the Portland Press Herald, which was also sent the emailed threat, the targeted legislators included state Rep. Anne Perry (D-Calais), and  Sen. Donna Bailey (D-York). The two legislators are the co-sponsors of a bill to ensure out-of-state patients and Maine medical professionals who provide reproductive health services and gender-affirming treatments aren’t penalized by other states’ laws, also known as a shield law, which drew both local and national attention from rightwing groups. The email reportedly referenced mutilation, which is a common mischaracterization of gender-affirming health care.

Days before the hoax, the rightwing account Libs of TikTok posted pictures and contact information for Perry and Bailey.

In response, Sen. Mike Tipping (D-Penobscot) wrote on X Friday: “This terrorism is a direct result of the lies those on the extreme right have been spreading about these policies.”

“No matter what they do, we’re going to continue to stand against hatred and fear and work to protect the rights of all Mainers,” Tipping added.

The Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee was scheduled to meet at 9 a.m. on Friday, but pushed that meeting back to 10:30 a.m. because of the threats. Sen. Craig Hickman (D-Kennebec), who co-chairs the committee, addressed the threats at the top of the meeting and called them “credible.”

“These are the times we live in,” Hickman said before asking the committee to take a moment of silence for “civility and peace.” 

Earlier this year, the Maine State House and several capitol buildings throughout the country received bomb threats, which were also deemed to be a hoax.

The story was updated to include more information about the targets and reasoning for the threats.