The Wisconsin state Capitol evacuated legislators and staff after Capitol police received notice of a bomb threat on the building Wednesday afternoon. After no bomb was found, the building reopened at 5:30 p.m.
The Department of Administration gave no comment on the "credible" bomb threat because "the investigation is still ongoing," DOA Communications Director Cullen Werwie said.
Capitol visitors and employees have been evacuated from the Capitol because of a "credible threat" pic.twitter.com/jgwON1aB4R
— Andrew Hahn (@ndrewhahn) July 8, 2015
Lawmakers gathered around the Capitol Square waiting to enter the building and resume budget debate. The state Assembly was originally scheduled to end debate at 11 p.m., though the assembly now has until 1 a.m. to finish, according to Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha.
Legislators are entering the Capitol after getting the all clear from police pic.twitter.com/renZTZMexD
— Negassi Tesfamichael (@_NegassiT) July 8, 2015
State Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said he could not remember a time where a bomb threat happened during a budget debate, but work talk didn’t cease just because the Capitol closed.
“There are good people on both sides of this budget,” Vos noted while waiting for the Capitol to reopen at the Coopers Tavern alongside legislators from both parties. “It’s nice working at the Capitol because we can talk, even during times like this.”
