Oregon Standoff Leaders Acquitted

Warrigal

Warrigal

SF VIP
Location
Sydney, Australia
As Yoda might say, "Unexpected this is".

Oregon Standoff Leaders Acquitted For Malheur Wildlife Refuge Takeover

A scuffle broke out in court after the defendants were acquitted for the armed takeover of a U.S. wildlife refuge.A federal court jury on Thursday acquitted anti-government militant leader Ammon Bundy and six followers of conspiracy charges stemming from their role in the armed takeover of a U.S. wildlife center in Oregon earlier this year.

Bundy and others, including his brother and co-defendant Ryan Bundy, cast the 41-day occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge as a legitimate and patriotic act of civil disobedience. Prosecutors called it a lawless scheme to seize federal property by force.

In an emotional climax to the trial in U.S. District Court in Portland, Ammon Bundy’s lawyer, Marcus Mumford, was tackled to the floor by U.S. marshals as he became involved in a heated verbal exchange with the judge over the terms of his client’s release.

Moments earlier, gasps of astonishment rose from the packed courtroom. Attorneys exchanged looks of excitement with the defendants, then hugged their clients as the not-guilty verdicts were read. Family members and supporters of the accused erupted in jubilation.

Outside the courthouse, supporters celebrated by shouting “Hallelujah” and reading passes from the U.S. Constitution. One man rode his horse, named Lady Liberty, in front of the courthouse carrying an American flag.

The verdict came hours after a newly reconstituted jury, with an alternate seated to replace one panelist dismissed over questions of bias on Wednesday, renewed deliberations in the case. Jurors previously had deliberated over three days.
The 12-member panel found the Bundy brothers and their four co-defendants - three men and a woman - not guilty of the most serious charge, conspiracy to impede federal officers through intimidation, threats or force.

That charge alone carried a maximum penalty of six years in prison.

The defendants also were unanimously acquitted of illegal possession of firearms in a federal facility and of theft of government property, except in the case of Ryan Bundy, for whom jurors deadlocked on the charge of theft.

During the takeover and at trial, the occupiers said they acted out of solidarity with two Oregon ranchers they believed were unfairly treated in an arson case and to protest their larger grievances against federal control over millions of acres of public lands in the West.

Full report here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/oregon-standoff-refuge-not-guilty_us_5812858ce4b0990edc303679
Click to expand...
 

More about the case. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/3-takeaways-oregon-standoff-acquittal/

Bundys Still In Custody

Despite the verdict and an animated protest from defense attorney Marcus Mumford, Ammon and Ryan Bundy will remain in federal custody for now as they await trial for their roles in the 2014 standoff in Bunkerville, Nevada.

Six defendants originally charged in the Malheur case, including the Bundy brothers, face charges in Nevada.

The verdict in Oregon will certainly color the conversation around the Nevada trial. The Bundys’ father, Cliven Bundy, led the 2014 standoff with federal agents in Nevada. The elder Bundy flew to Portland around the time his sons were arrested in Oregon and was almost immediately taken into custody himself.

Pete Santilli, a conservative internet radio host from Cincinnati, also faces charges in Nevada. Prosecutors dropped charges against Santilli stemming from his role in the Oregon occupation.


7 Await Trial

Thursday’s verdict is far from the last we’ve heard of what came to be known as the Oregon Standoff. Seven people, including husband and wife Sean and Sandy Anderson — two of the last four to leave the refuge — still face trial in February.

It is unclear if the not guilty verdict returned Thursday will have any impact on the trial yet to come.

It is also uncertain how this will affect Ryan Payne, an occupation leader who wants to retract his guilty plea. The federal government has until Monday to file a response to Payne’s request, at which point the judge will rule if he can withdraw it and go to trial in February.
Click to expand...
 
It would appear that this is where the prosecution came unstuck

In an attempt to end the 41-day standoff, the government sent paid informants into the refuge, about 225 miles southeast of Portland. But the prosecution only grudgingly admitted as much during the trial, and the protester’s lawyers used that fact to suggest that the government had something to hide, or had perhaps even induced occupiers into committing criminal acts.



The conspiracy charges leveled against the occupiers did not help either. Though often used for criminal enterprises — like a plot to steal money or to sell illegal drugs — conspiracy appeared to be a cloudier explanation for the occupation, which drew an array of people with grievances against Washington.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/29/us/oregon-bundy-verdict-wildlife-refuge.html?_r=0
Click to expand...
 
I wonder how many of those expressing negative thought about those guys are aging hippies who thought sit-ins were just great "back in the day". And how many support the Occupy Movement". And how many support the Soros bussed in racial protesters/looters. And how about those Indians protesting the pipe line on private property?

Bundy and his boys did a lot less damage.
 
I have attended two rallies in the city in my whole life. Both were legally sanctioned by the police and involved a walk through the streets from Park A to Park B where some speakers addressed the crowd. No-one was armed and no-one damaged private or public property and no threats were made. Both of these actions were protesting government policy concerning matters of human rights.

I have also attended union rallies, one of which culminated in a march through the city to Parliament House. Again, a peaceful mass demonstration of discontent with the status quo.

Don't you dare compare these actions with the armed revolt that was the occupation of the wildlife reserve. They are chalk and cheese.
 
Anyone raising a weapon against state or federal officers should be dealt with in the same manner as ordinary criminals raising a weapon against police officers. These people actually waving an American flag is an even greater disgrace. It would seem as though some folks believe that certain vigilante groups should be excused for armed rebellion against our country. These people , by approving the actions of a few nutcases, threaten the whole nation with tribal warfare. Class against class, white against black, white against anyone that doesn't bend to their ideas of supremacy. Take a good look at Eastern nations with their different tribes, dancing around with weapons raised. That's our America of the future if we allow armed groups to obey or disobey the laws as they please. We are either a nation of laws or not!! Heaven help us if it's the latter.
 
DaveA said:
Anyone raising a weapon against state or federal officers should be dealt with in the same manner as ordinary criminals raising a weapon against police officers. These people actually waving an American flag is an even greater disgrace. It would seem as though some folks believe that certain vigilante groups should be excused for armed rebellion against our country. These people , by approving the actions of a few nutcases, threaten the whole nation with tribal warfare. Class against class, white against black, white against anyone that doesn't bend to their ideas of supremacy. Take a good look at Eastern nations with their different tribes, dancing around with weapons raised. That's our America of the future if we allow armed groups to obey or disobey the laws as they please. We are either a nation of laws or not!! Heaven help us if it's the latter.
Click to expand...

I agree, and it's very scary.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top