Four anti-government activists still occupying a US wildlife refuge in OR have been indicted along with 12 others previously arrested on charges of conspiring to impede federal officers during a month-long armed standoff at the compound.
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The siege largely ended on January 26 when law enforcement officers arrested several of the militia members during a traffic stop on U.S. Route 395, which also led to officers shooting two of them – including Bundy’s brother, Ryan.
The indictment charging Ammon Bundy and 15 other militants who occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge was released Thursday morning.
“The FBI’s investigation is ongoing so it would not be appropriate to provide details at this time”, a written statement from the Joint Information Center said.
Finicum’s death has become a symbol for those decrying federal oversight, on public lands in the West and elsewhere, and has led to protests of what they call an unnecessary use of force by the FBI and Oregon State Police. “You have already killed enough”, the message, which was posted to the Bundy Ranch YouTube page, says. He was carrying a loaded 9mm handgun, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said. Four holdouts still remain at the occupation of federal buildings.
However, following the indictment, Bundy changed his tone, and instead of encouraging those at the refuge to leave, as he did on multiple occasions in the past, he took aim at law enforcement, telling them they needed to back off – a polar opposite of what was said last week.
Guy Finicum, recalled the rancher as full of life. It also says they warned the local sheriff of “extreme civil unrest” if their demands were unmet, among other acts of intimidation.
Eleven people, including Bundy, were arrested – 10 in OR and one in Arizona. She said said it was particularly troubling that “in a case like this, where numerous people distrust the government to begin with, that we would have proceedings begin with our clients not in court”.
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“It’s a very small town… nearly everyone in the town knows one another”, Tiffany Harris, Cox’s attorney, said. On Thursday, Harris filed an emergency motion asking again for Cox to be allowed to go to the service.
