#ryan bundy

Mistrial in LasVegas Bundy Case

Bureau of Land Management investigates a new Bundy ranch project

AMMON BUNDY: ‘WE WILL CONTINUE TO STAND’

The Bundy insurrection hurts wildlife conservation, and democracy itself, by upsetting the rule of law. Indeed, this group of militant extremists is undermining the entire doctrine that the government should hold wildlife (and land) in trust for the people, and manage them for the benefit of all Americans. That is why it should be taken seriously, snacks and dildos aside. This event hurts the future of wildlife conservation — many of my students aspire to (and then do) work for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, state wildlife agencies, academia, and advocacy or science NGOs. Present and future employees of all of these groups, and the public trust they protect, are injured and demoralized when the rule of law goes disregarded. Further, our field already has a diversity problem, and having armed insurrectionists that are white supremacists taking over wildlife refuges does nothing to help. Such lawlessness contributes to an uncertain regulatory environment, and increases risk of intimidation or violence against employees — which is already common.

A federal jury on Thursday found Ammon Bundy, his brother Ryan Bundy and five co-defendants not guilty of conspiring to prevent federal employees from doing their jobs through intimidation, threat or force during the 41-day occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The Bundy brothers and occupiers Jeff Banta and David Fry also were found not guilty of having guns in a federal facility. Kenneth Medenbach was found not guilty of stealing government property, and a hung jury was declared on Ryan Bundy's charge of theft of FBI surveillance cameras.

Though the Oregon standoff's defendants represent different aspects of right-wing extremism – from white supremacy to militias – defendants Ryan Bundy and Kenneth Medenbach have employed a classic sovereign-citizen tactic throughout pre-trial hearings: file motions that make no sense. Bundy, representing himself, declared in July that he is "an idiot of the 'Legal Society'" not subject to the courts. His argument was rejected. He also unsuccessfully attempted to subpoena Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. Also his own attorney, Medenbach pestered U.S. District Judge Anna Brown over whether she swore a valid oath of office. In August, he filed a lawsuit on behalf of himself and his fellow occupiers demanding the defendants' release since, he claimed, the court was not operating lawfully. By the end of the month, Judge Brown told him to cut it out or she'd strip him of his pro se status. He's been quiet since.