A federal court jury has acquitted anti-government militant leader Ammon Bundy and six followers of conspiracy charges stemming from their role in the armed takeover of a United States wildlife centre in OR earlier this year.
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Bundy and his crew of armed ranchers were largely left alone for weeks by law enforcement as they brandished guns and advocated for their rights to federal land.
Less than a year ago, Ammon Bundy, the son of a Nevada rancher who has a history of clashing with the federal government, urged demonstrators to gather in a small town in Eastern Oregon to protest the imprisonment of two ranchers who had been found guilty of committing arson on federal land.
The takeover was led by the Bundy brothers, whose father Cliven Bundy had been involved in a similar confrontation with federal officials in 2014 over cattle grazing on public land in Nevada.
“He said you’re not taking this man because you have no jurisdiction over him”.
The 41-day siege on the sanctuary began on 2 January, 2016 and shone a spotlight on a long-running dispute over millions of acres of western public land.
The Wild West-like armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Preserve in southeastern OR started as a protest against the arrests of two men who illegally started fires at the preserve, and was rooted in the rabid anti-government belief that the federal government has no right to control the lands that fall under its jurisdiction. Another person who pleaded guilty – Brian Cavalier, who was said to provide security to the Bundys – was sentenced to time served.
LaVoy Finicum was shot during the late night arrest of members of the armed group.
Ammon Bundy gave frequent news conferences, and the group used social media in a mostly unsuccessful effort to get others to join them.
Grasty said he planned to spend Thursday night in Burns, gathering with residents and listening to what they have to say about the case. He argued that the takeover was spontaneous and informed by religious belief.
Maureen Valdez, among those still celebrating, said she fell to the courthouse floor in tears when another woman informed her of the verdict.
Those who took plea deals have either agreed to or will likely face between six months of home detention and 3 ½ years in prison.
Jurors announced on Thursday that they reached an agreement on all but one charge, which was a theft count against Ryan Bundy.
“While I respect the jury’s decision, I am disappointed”. He reiterated that there were no employees at the Malheur Reserve during the occupation and no threats were made towards employees.
“We need to continue getting back in control and not having 40 percent of our county under public employment”, she said.
Ammon Bundy’s lawyer, Mumford, then requested that the Bundy brothers be immediately released.
During the trial that began in early September, the Bundys say their plan was to take ownership of the refuge before handing it over to the discretion of local officials.
Mumford became agitated. “He is going to be released”, he said in a raised voice. Mumford was yelling that his client was free to go.
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Alongside the Bundy brothers, Jeff Banta, Neil Wampler, Kenneth Medenbach, David Fry and Shawna Cox were all cleared of the charges. She added that Ammon and Ryan are “still not released”. “This (the verdict) could just continue to put people on edge”. Supporters chanted and cheered, embracing one another and recounting the courtroom action and their opinions of it to reporters. Charges against co-defendant Peter Santilli were previously dismissed.
