The FBI surrounded the last protesters holed up at a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon Thursday, as the weeks-long armed siege approaches an end. The Bundy family have been known for their opposition to the declaration of federal lands, to which they lost their ranch several years ago. They may have feared Bundy’s presence would draw sympathizers to defend the holdouts.
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The criminal complaint accuses Bundy, 69, of conspiracy, assault on a federal officer, obstruction, weapon use an possession, extortion to interfere with commerce and aiding and abetting. He’s accused of leading supporters who pointed military-style weapons at federal agents trying to enforce a court order to round up Bundy cattle from federal rangeland.
Meanwhile, federal authorities in six states arrested seven other people – including Wampler – who are accused of being involved in the occupation.
The four who remained (Sean Anderson and his wife Sandy Anderson, David Fry, and Jeff Banta) said they had been camping out rather than stay in the federal building at the refuge.
Fiore said the group was not giving up, just moving the fight to a “new location”. Gov. Kate Brown called the episode “very traumatic”.
“I declare war against federal government”, he said. Fry held off his surrender for a couple of hours after the other three walked out, saying his grievances still had not been met.Im actually pointing a gun at my head, the 27-year-old said.
Fry seemed unsure about whether or not he would leave the compound as he began live streaming from the refuge.
During a live stream of a phone conversation, the occupiers said they would surrender Thursday morning only if escorted by Nevada politician Michele Fiore and Graham.
Ward called on residents to “get off Facebook” and sit down with each other over a cup of coffee to talk about their disagreements.
“I’ve seen division in this community, division in friends and families”, he said.
The eldest Bundy was arrested Wednesday after he arrived at the Portland International Airport, according to The Associated Press.
Fiore told those on the call that Mike Arnold – Ammon Bundy’s lawyer, who Fiore said was in the vehicle with her – spoke with the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
The four are the last remnants of an armed group that seized the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on January 2 to oppose federal land-use policies. Federal agents, OR state troopers and sheriff’s deputies monitored the occupation to avoid a confrontation.
They did, on January 26.
A closed Sod House Lane, about 4 miles outside of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern OR, displays an electronic sign warning of arrest, Thursday morning, February 11, 2016, near Burns, Ore.
At the same time, law enforcement officers shot and killed LaVoy Finicum, one of the protest group’s most prominent members. “Much work is left to assess the crime scene and damage to the refuge and tribal artifacts”, Billy J. Williams, U.S. attorney for the District of OR, said.
That means a total of 25 people have been charged with the standoff.
The occupiers said they saw snipers on a hill and a drone.
In the sometimes fiery phone call, Anderson, 48, repeated that the occupiers weren’t technically giving up what they stand for.
David Fry, the remaining occupant of the refuge, said he will not leave.
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The FBI says after the incident agents placed barricades around the occupiers’ location.
