A federal court jury on Wednesday 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.
The government accused the leader of the occupation, Ammon Bundy, and his six followers on trial of engaging in a lawless scheme to seize federal property by force during the 41-day standoff that began in early January.
On January 26, the Bundys and others were intercepted along Hwy 395 on their way to John Day. There were 2 cars in the caravan of occupiers — one driven by an FBI informant and the other by militia spokesperson LaVoy Finicum.
Finicum tried to get away from the FBI and OSP blockade. When he plowed into a snow bank on the side of the road, he got out of the car and was shot to death as he reached for his gun.
Most of the occupiers left the refuge soon after. But 4 people held out — including Banta and Fry — who didn’t surrender until February 11.
Just before they surrendered, though, Cliven Bundy — the father of Ammon and Ryan, who led an anti-government standoff at his Bunkerville, Nevada ranch in 2014 — came to Oregon to support the remaining occupiers.
He was arrested by federal agents as he got off the plane in Portland. All the Bundys now also face federal charges related to Bunkerville.
In all, about 2 dozen people were arrested in connection with the occupation.
The trial of these 7 was the first one. Another 7 people face trial in February.
