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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
Quote:
Originally Posted by
monty
That was well done and every one of those involved should be arrested and charged with murder.
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Tumbleweed
That was well done and every one of those involved should be arrested and charged with murder.
If they are not prosecuted for murder the FBI and police will be free to execute anyone, with no fear of repercussions, who speaks the truth or "spreads the virus" in the words of appointed Governor Kate Brown.
It is clear from this video, the goon squad intended to kill them all.
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
This is another video by Casey Runyan that is a closer look at the shooting of Lavoy with the foam bullet.
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
Judge Anna Brown, Ourpost of Freedom by Gary Hunt
« Burns Chronicles No 27 – Public Lands – Part 1 – It’s a Matter of Jurisdiction
Burns Chronicles No 28 – Public Trial – Mistrial? – What stinking Mistrial?
September 19, 2016, 7:41 am
Burns Chronicles No 28
Public Trial
Mistrial? What stinking Mistrial?
Gary Hunt
Outpost of Freedom
September 19, 2016
A rather interesting what, and from a lay standpoint unjust, occurrence, happened both in the paper chase (at this point, nearly 1300 docket entries) and in the courtroom. It had to do with the testimony of the government’s first witness, Harney County Sheriff David Ward. It was a Motion for Mistrial.
An interesting note on the Motion is that we obtained a copy shortly before it was “SEALED”. This led to the admonishment that is addressed below.
It all began on the 2nd day of the trial (Wednesday, September 14), during cross-examination by Ammon Bundy’s attorney, Marcus R. Mumford is questioning Sheriff Ward. Here are excerpts from the Motion, taken from the rough-draft transcript
Q. And you had conducted some investigation, into Bunkerville?
A. I had.
Q. And did that investigation come – that was in the process of those meetings that you had with the U.S. attorney, and the FBI?
A. I had – I had gone on to the Internet and googled it, it’s amazing what you can find on there.
I found videos from the things that happened at Bunkerville. I – I looked at a lot of different – lot of different things that happened, throughout that incident. And the thought that have happening in my community scared the hell out of me, where I saw armed people lined up on both sides, advancing, you know, with – with one side advancing against another.
I had learned some of unstable people who had left that situation, and killed two police officers, while they were eating lunch in a restaurant.
I think that there are – there are a lot of circumstances I was attempting to avoid in my community, sir.
Then, Mumford asked that some of Ward’s testimony be stricken:
MUMFORD: Your Honor, I would move to strike that.
THE COURT: Move to strike what, sir?
MUMFORD: The nonresponsive part of the –
THE COURT: I don’t know what you identify as nonresponsive.The answer seemed responsive to your question, so be specific.
MUMFORDM: Okay. Well – I think it was a yes-or-no question, your Honor.
THE COURT: Is there another objection?
Mumford, failing to make any progress, is simply abandoned by Judge Brown. However, Ryan Bundy, acting pro se (representing himself), jumps in, once the Judge recognizes that he, too, has an objection.
DEFENDANT RYAN BUNDY: Yes, my objection, your Honor, hearsay, there, it alludes to events that were not necessarily related to – to the situation.
THE COURT: The court reporter is not hearing you, Mr. Bundy, because of your microphone not being on.Would you –
DEFENDANT RYAN BUNDY: The mic is on.
THE COURT: Let’s try again. The court reporter wasn’t hearing, would you please restate your objection?
DEFENDANT RYAN BUNDY: Yes, hearsay. He’s tying in persons that were not involved it (pause, conferring.)
Prejudicial, I change that to prejudicial.About the folks supposedly killing people that were not associated with us.
THE COURT: Jurors, I’m going to ask you to disregard the witness’s references to events that occurred in Nevada that had to do with the police officers being killed, and whether they were or weren’t associated with Bunkerville.
The answer generally was responsive, in that it reflected the witness’s state of mind, but you’re not to consider that particular part of his answer in any part of your consideration of this evidence.
Now, the transcript is a “rough-draft transcript”, and we are told that there was an Order made by the Judge, referencing “Court’s Sealed Order 1141”. Then, she goes on to admonish Mumford for using quotes from the “rough-draft transcript” in his Motion..
http://outpost-of-freedom.com/blog/w...1-1024x325.jpg
So, this brings up two rather interesting questions. First, let’s look at the docket, and its purpose. Each entry shows the date that the Clerk entered the document submitted for filing, or other “Minute Notes”. Then, each is given a sequential number. The purpose is for the record, so that all entries are preserved, hence nothing can “disappear.” However, since related documents can be filed many pages apart, it warrants that we go looking (on PACER, a government website that makes court information available) for docket entry #1141:
http://outpost-of-freedom.com/blog/w...mistrial-2.jpg
The image is a capture from the pdf of the docket, with the bottom of page 94 and the top of page 95.
Well, shoot. It ain’t there! How can that be an Order, when it doesn’t appear on the Docket? Was #1141 really an Order, or was something else removed so that reference could be made to a non-existent Order?
Regarding the second question this raises, the gag order set by the Judge, early on, pretty much prohibits the attorneys from providing certain information. But, as can be seen by other “sealed” entry, there is a notation that it is sealed, it has a number, and a brief description of what the document pertains to.Now, if this is a “Public Trial”, why is this information not available to the Public? Is there something that the Court is trying to hide? Even worse, if an attorney wants to object to testimony, as addressed in this article, and he cannot use the “rough-draft transcript”, how is he to address the particulars of the matter he is addressing? He cannot demonstrate what his concern is — UNLESS he can quote from the record, rough to not, to express his concern. It makes one wonder what would have happened if the government had quoted from the “rough-draft transcript”.
This warranted further investigation. First is a capture of the docket on February 19, 2016. Then, a capture on September 16, both of the first few entries on the docket.
http://outpost-of-freedom.com/blog/w...e-1024x443.jpgFebruary 19, 2016 – docket capture
http://outpost-of-freedom.com/blog/w...et-capture.jpg
February 19, 2016 – docket capture
Golly! Entries 16 through 22 have gone missing! Now, I can’t say that there has not been a rule adopted that allows manipulation of the docket, however, if there is, it defies the concept of a record keeping method that did exist to prove that justice had been done. So, we are left to suppose that the Judge would not pull any shenanigans to try and deceive the Public. We should have serious concerns over that possibility.
We can’t stop here; we have to look at what Sheriff Ward said, and was left with a degree of credibility with the Jury. Now, Ward should be well schooled in testifying, and I’m sure that the US attorneys and the FBI are well schooled in testifying. They should all know what is not allowed, however, as Mumford said in the “Motion for Mistrial”.
Once such statements are made, the damage is hard to undo: “one cannot unring a bell”; “after the thrust of the saber it is difficult to say forget the wound”; and finally, “if you throw a skunk into the jury box, you can’t instruct the jury not to smell it.”
Now, surely, the jury will give a high degree of regard for testimony from a government employee. Given what we have, that odor in the Jury Box may not go away during the course of the trial.
Now, let’s visit what was so damaging, and absolutely false, concerning what Ward said. He created fear by associating the Millers with the Bundy Affair when he said, “I had learned of some unstable people who had left that situation, and killed two police officers.” Well, surely, he spent a lot of time with the FBI and the US Attorneys. Was he stupid enough to believe Google and not confirm with the authorities that knew more than most about what happened back in April 2014?As far as sources for such information, Ward would probably contact law enforcement in Las Vegas, as a more reliable source. Well, here is what the Las Vegas Review Journal said in their June 15, 2014 edition (page 2):
“We can’t find anything linking these two guys to anybody,” said a law enforcement officialwith knowledge of the ongoing investigation. “If they were a part of a group, they hid it well.”
During the day just after the Millers shooting the two cops, I contacted a number of people at the Ranch to find out what role, if any, the Miller’s played (Vetting the Millers). I found that they did spend some time in the public area, but were never allowed at the ranch. They were deemed aggressive and unsuitable to participate in protecting the ranch. The were sent to Mesquite where Stewart Rhodes gave them “a couple hundred dollars” so that they could get a motel room, shower, and some new clothes, because they claimed that, they had given up jobs, their home, and were wearing the only clothes they possessed.
Now, there is no reason that Ward would not have some, if not all, or, more than likely, even more information about the Millers. So, his intention in laying that information out to the jury was not only a violation of what he should have known and been informed of by the FBI/AUSA, it was also a falsehood (aka a damned lie).
Now, we know from previous pronouncements from Judge Brown that she was not going to let the trial be delayed. And, in this instance, Queen Judge Anna Brown has determined that she can do no wrong, and her insistence on keeping her schedule supersedes the assurance of justice in the outcome of the trial.
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
Range Fire/Range Magazine has added all of Todd Macfarlane's videos. It looks like the previous page, but as you scroll down you see the most recent videos. It is being updated daily..
http://rangefire.us/2016/09/13/ongoi...ge-commentary/
ONGOING: OREGON STANDOFF TRIAL — COVERAGE & COMMENTARY
September 13, 2016 - Government/Politics, Oregon Standoff, Public Lands, Todd Macfarlane - Tagged: Bundy, federal government, Malheur, Oregon Standoff, Range, RANGEfire, trial - 12 comments
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RANGEFIRE! is your source for “live” commentary and coverage of the Oregon Standoff Trial.
At RANGEFIRE! we recognize that there are multiple sides to every story. We believe there needs to be an alternative voice to mainstream media commentary and coverage of these issues.
Working in combination with a consortium of alternative media outlets, including Newsbud/BFP, RANGE magazine, Free Range Report, Oregon Standoff News, Rural Route Radio, Loos Tales, etc., RANGEFIRE! will be providing live coverage, deeper background commentary, and short video updates regarding the OREGON STANDOFF TRIAL.
Note: We will be adding video clips on an ongoing basis, so scroll down to find new clips
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
Report on Sept. 19 proceedings from Redoubt News
http://redoubtnews.com/2016/09/19/pr...malheur-trial/
Prosecution Shenanigans in Malheur Protest Trial
September 19, 2016 BLM, DOJ, FBI, Featured, Oregon 1
http://redoubtnews.com/wp-content/up.../HS-banner.png
http://i2.wp.com/redoubtnews.com/wp-...size=678%2C381"Death of the Justice" Quadraro
Prosecution Shenanigans in Malheur Protest Trial
By Shari Dovale
Court was back in session today for the Malheur Protest Trial in Portland. The government continued attempting to discredit the defendants, but was struggling throughout the day.
The prosecution put up a couple of refuge employees to tell how bad it was during and after the protest. The first was Linda Beck, a micro-biologist, that talked about how her normally messy office was very messy when she returned. Mr. Mumford, Ammon Bundy’s attorney, did get her to admit that the FBI could have made the mess in her office.
She discussed her plan to ‘control’ the carp population in the lake, but the defense forced her to admit how she would prefer to eradicate all the carp. The defense also made the point that the carp were not scheduled to be ‘controlled’ until April. This was not well received by the prosecution. It was about this time that Judge Anna Brown shut down the discussion of the carp issue.
The defense attempted to ask Beck if she had ever taken direction from anyone at the Bureau of Land Management, but the judge did not allow those questions. However, she did not lose any work during the 41 days, so it was not a big loss to her.
The next refuge employee to testify was Carla Burnside, an archaeologist and I.T. Support. The most important part of her testimony included discussing her ‘unwritten’ agreement with the Paiute Tribe to keep all of the artifacts locked inside a rat-infested basement for decades. She said the Paiute tribe wanted them stored this way, so that is what the refuge did.
She did admit to having a complete box of documents on the Hammond case, which was the catalyst for the Malheur Protest. Directed by Chad Karges, refuge manager, Burnside collected everything she could about their case and developed a chronology of events for him.
Burnside also admitted to not losing work or pay due to Ammon and friends being at the refuge during the first part of this year.
The prosecution then moved on to a witness they hoped would seal Ryan Bundy’s fate on the theft of cameras. Nicholas Bleuler is a 23 year old with 3 violent felonies to date. He was on probation last January when he decided to go to the refuge and show his support. He testified that he cleared each visit with his probation officer, and it was okay with him.
During his last visit to the refuge, he was with Ryan and others when the cameras were removed from the utility poles outside the refuge. Bleuler incriminated himself in a felony theft, yet Judge Brown allowed him to do this without every questioning him about his 5th amendment. She never protected him inside her courtroom.
The defense asked Bleuler if he had cut a deal with the prosecution for his testimony, and the witness said no. When asked if he could still get charged with this crime he claimed it was “still up in the air.” So, whether the prosecution made a deal with this young man and did not report it to the court as they would be required to do, or they totally ignored the Constitution in Federal Court.
The way Judge Brown has run this trial, I would have to guess that she does not lose any sleep over her abuse of the same document she swore an Oath to uphold.
It is expected that the government will rest it’s case this week and the defense will begin. Next week, the Reverend Franklin Graham is expected to testify for the defense.
But, this week, the dog and pony show continues.
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
http://www.truthandaction.org/consti...lawyer-oregon/
Constitutional Lawyer: Oregon Standoff Isn’t About Ranchers, The Feds CANNOT Own Land Outside DC
http://www.truthandaction.org/wp-con...er-680x365.png
The Federal government has been seeking to expand it’s power for years, and President Obama has insisted that because he was a professor of Constitutional law he somehow is more equipped and capable to teach us how this country should run and why we must obey whatever he says.
He therefore jammed Obamacare through Congress with not one Republican supporter, and then somehow conned the Supreme Court into affirming that U.S. citizens MUST purchase insurance or be fined. This is typical of the lawless Obama administration, and we have truly become a banana republic, though that is not how the Constitution is written.
See the excellent video on page 2 regarding Constitutional limitations that are being violated.
The Federal governments seems to think that the citizens only own property leave of the government, and in essence that is true.
If a person buys a piece of property and pays property taxes on it, that is a form of rent paid to the government, and the government can seize that property and push the rightful owner off of that land if the taxes are not paid. How then does someone own a piece of property if the government can demand rent and evict if that rent or tax is not paid? It is stunning when seen this in the broad context, and true students of the Consititution will recognize the con that we have all bought in to.
The latest land and power battle is over father and son ranchers in Oregon by the name of Hammond went to jail on an arson charge. In 2002 and 2006, these ranchers decided to clear some brush and overgrowth on their ranch land by conducting a controlled burn, a very common activity in large areas such as their ranch in Oregon. The fire accidentally spread onto federal lands but was put out by the ranchers without any help from the feds. However, the Federal government still charged the ranchers with arson and are determined to jail them for 5 years each. Incidentally, the Federal land is flourishing, is now less of a wild fire hazard, and no properties were damaged in the incident.
The Constitutional attorney in the following video cites the Hammond case, but then goes on to instruct us on why it is only a small part of the huge overreach of the Federal government, as shown by the Constitutional limitations that the Federal government has been ignoring.
Watch video, page 2:
Next Page »
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
Quote:
He therefore jammed Obamacare through Congress with not one Republican supporter, and then somehow conned the Supreme Court into affirming that U.S. citizens MUST purchase insurance or be fined. This is typical of the lawless Obama administration, and we have truly become a banana republic, though that is not how the Constitution
U. S. citizens must purchase Obamacare. Everyone else must sign a Form W-4 (perjuring themselves) in order to purchase Obamacare.
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
Quote:
Originally Posted by
monty
Range Fire/Range Magazine has added all of Todd Macfarlane's videos. It looks like the previous page, but as you scroll down you see the most recent videos. It is being updated daily..
http://rangefire.us/2016/09/13/ongoi...ge-commentary/
ONGOING: OREGON STANDOFF TRIAL — COVERAGE & COMMENTARY
September 13, 2016 - Government/Politics, Oregon Standoff, Public Lands, Todd Macfarlane - Tagged: Bundy, federal government, Malheur, Oregon Standoff, Range, RANGEfire, trial - 12 comments
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RANGEFIRE! is your source for “live” commentary and coverage of the Oregon Standoff Trial.
At RANGEFIRE! we recognize that there are multiple sides to every story. We believe there needs to be an alternative voice to mainstream media commentary and coverage of these issues.j
Working in combination with a consortium of alternative media outlets, including Newsbud/BFP, RANGE magazine, Free Range Report, Oregon Standoff News, Rural Route Radio, Loos Tales, etc., RANGEFIRE! will be providing live coverage, deeper background commentary, and short video updates regarding the OREGON STANDOFF TRIAL.
Note: We will be adding video clips on an ongoing basis, so scroll down to find new clips
more from Todd Macfarlane on September 19 proceedings. I couldn't get all the page to load this morning because of all the videos they have posted so I was unable to post this commentary.
DAY 5 — Monday, September 19, 2016.
Note: Since we don’t have unlimited resources, RANGEFIRE editor, Todd Macfarlane, will not be able to report live from Portland during the entire trial. Based on other contacts and connections in Portland, however, we will be providing both written and video updates, even when Macfarlane is not on the ground at the trial. These reports will be based on second hand information, but will hopefully help interested parties follow developments in the case as it progresses.
http://rangefire.us/wp-content/uploa...-1-300x246.jpg
Today, the government’s first witness was Linda Beck, a MNWR fish biologist, whose office Ammon Bundy used during the occupation. She testifiied about her duties at the refuge, and the government’s efforts to remove invasive carp fish from the shallow lakes. During both the government’s opening statement, and during Beck’s direct examination, it was stated that the Refuge had planned to bring in a commercial fishing enterprise during the month of January, to help remove the carp.
This representation certainly raised eyebrows because the water would have been frozen, and it was difficult to understand how a commercial fishing effort would work under those conditions. On cross examination, however, Beck admitted that the commercial fishing effort was actually planned and scheduled for April.
Beck also testified that despite the fact that she had not been at the refugre during the month of January, she continued to work and do her job, and was paid, just like all the other refuge employees were. She said that when she returned to the refuge her office was a big mess, and looked like it had been trashed, but on cross examination she admitted that she didn’t know who had made the mess, and couldn’t say that it might not have been the FBI that made the mess.
One of the most important points of Beck’s testimony came when she was shown a photo of a whiteboard in her office. When the image of the Whiteboard was blown-up to see what it said, at the top of the board were the words “Adverse Possesion,” with elements listed under that heading. Beck testified that neither she, nor any other refuge employees had written these things on the whiteboard.
Carla Burnside, the Refuge archeologist testified that the refuge headquarters had actually been built on top of an archeological site — back before it was unlawful to do that. She acknowledged that there are thousands of artificats housed in a basement on the Refuge, that have never been displayed, and there is no current plan to display them.
Videos were shown of messages Ammon Bundy allegedly posted on social media, along with Blaine Cooper, Jon Ritzheimer and Jason Patrick. In Ritzheimer’s video, he says “we will never fire unless fired upon.” In Ammon Bundy’s video, after telling reporters that he had been in Harney County for two months working to try to do something to help Dwight and Steven Hammond, Ammon says “We feel we have exhausted all prudent measures and have been ignored.”
Twenty-three year-old Nick Bleuler testified that when he arrived at the refuge on January 2nd, the day the occupation began, he encountered men with rifles. Bleuler said that he didn’t have a firearm, but went to the refuge to support the Hammonds, and to protest land grabs. He testified that he helped take down the FBI cameras installed at the Refuge, near the headquarters, which among other things, recorded all license plates coming and going at the refuge.
RANGE / RANGEFIRE! — Addressing Issues Facing the West / Spreading America’s Cowboy Spirit Beyond the Outback
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
Quote:
Originally Posted by
monty
Details continue to emerge the FBI may have fired on LaVoy Finicum
http://endingthefed.com/details-emer...n-rancher.html
Details Emerge that FBI ‘may have opened fire’ on Oregon Rancher
POLITICS
September 19, 2016A+A-
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The case of LaVoy Finicum, the rancher who was gunned down in Oregon earlier this year, may have disappeared from the main stream press, but you can be sure that it is still a hot topic in rural America where they see it as a clear cut case of murder by government authorities. The situation embarrassed local and federal authorities as farmers and ranchers continued their protest against government overreach and land theft, which was carried in national newspapers for weeks on end.
The end result was that Finicum, one of the leaders in the debacle, advised officials that he was going to the next town to meet with the sheriff there. County sheriffs have tremendous jurisdiction over the area that they oversee, and that would have been a problem for law enforcement and the FBI Hostage Rescue Team which was on site.
Enroute to the meeting, Finicums truck was forced off the road into a snow bank, Finicum got out of the truck with hands raised, then tried to approach officers with his hands held wide, but was gunned down in cold blood there in the snow. There is both helicopter footage as well as a cell phone record of the incident, and it is causing some major concerns among law enforcement and the FBI.
It is clear from the helicopter footage that Finicums murder was a set up, with the objective of stopping the rancher’s protest in its tracks. The FBI would like to lay the responsibility of the shooting on the out of control local police, but there is new evidence pointing the the FBI and their crack marksmen.
New details have emerged that an agent with the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team may have opened fire on Robert “LaVoy” Finicum, one of the central players in an anti-government standoff in Oregon, after Finicum’s truck crashed near a police roadblock.
Several members of the FBI unit were present Jan. 26 when authorities attempted to stop two vehicles carrying leaders of the standoff away from their stronghold at a remote federal wildlife refuge. During the encounter, two Oregon state troopers shot and killed Finicum; eight other people were arrested.
Last week, Deschutes County Sheriff Shane Nelson, who is overseeing the investigation, said he had concluded that “FBI HRT operators fired two shots as Mr. Finicum exited the truck, and one shot hit the truck.” Nelson accused the agents of failing to “disclose their shots to our investigators.”
The five FBI agents have denied firing assault rifles during the incident. But in a recently released interview, an Oregon State Police officer told investigators that he spotted two copper-colored rifle casings near the spot where the FBI agents were standing. The Hostage Rescue Team has used copper- *colored casings, former agents said; the Oregon state police use only silver-colored casings. The copper casings were never recovered.
Meanwhile, the Portland Oregonian reported Tuesday that FBI surveillance video taken after the shooting shows the agents searching the area with flashlights and huddling. One of them then bends over twice and appears to be picking up something.
On Wednesday, a law enforcement official confirmed the video account. If allegations of a coverup are determined to be true, the incident would be hugely embarrassing to the FBI and deal a devastating blow to the FBI team’s reputation.The Hostage Rescue Team is a highly trained unit that was formed after the massacre at the Munich Olympics in 1972. Many operators were once in the U.S. military and served in the Joint Special Operations Command.
Little is known about the operators involved in the Oregon standoff. An Oregon state trooper told investigators he wasn’t sure whether they used their real names. An investigator described them as “pretty mysterious.”
The FBI declined to comment Wednesday because of the ongoing investigation. Earlier this month, FBI Portland Special Agent in Charge Gregory T. Bretzing said, “The question of who fired these shots has not been resolved.”
The Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Justice is investigating the incident. The new information provides circumstantial evidence of possible misconduct, officials said, but is not conclusive.
It was not clear Wednesday whether the inspector general had interviewed the operators involved in the Oregon shooting. The agents continue to work, but they cannot be deployed in situations that might require them to use their weapons.
The American people generally accept that the FBI is a federal department that operates with integrity and honesty. The case of LaVoy Finicum raises real questions about the agency and its ability to operate as a national para-military organization without much oversight. Particularly in rural America people are starting to question why the federal government thousands of miles away in Washington D.C. needs to exercise so much control and to commandeer and restrict so much land in the West.
The death of LaVoy Finicum is being seen as a de facto execution designed to put the protesters in their place and to serve as an excuse to round up and incarcerate many of the ranchers. To date there are at least 20 ranchers who have been jailed and who are being held indefinitely under sweeping and spurious charges that could represent decades in jail. There is, perhaps, a very good reason that the government and the Democrat party is so anxious to implement severe gun control measures. It is a precursor to gun confiscation, because a weapon is the great equalizer when government oversteps its bounds and authority. That it may come to that is uncertain, but the murder of LaVoy Finicum shows that the federal government is deadly serious in its desire to unrest of the American people. And with the execution of Finicum the federal government very well could have just lit the fuse to greater and more widespread uprisings.
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
From RangeFire, "Another Side -- 'Malheur Misfits' Will Get Justice? -- According to the Pittsburg Post-Gazette"
http://rangefire.us/2016/09/20/anoth...-post-gazette/
Another Side — “Malheur Misfits” Will Get Justice? — According to the Pittsburg Post-Gazette
According to the editorial board of the Pittsburg Post-Gazzette, The “Malheur Misfits” — an anti-government group — will get justice
Note: We’ve said it over and over again, here at RANGEFIRE! we have no interest in being a single-dimensional echo chamber. We acknowledge that there are always multiple sides to every story. In the West, there is an old saying to the effect that: “good fences make good neighbors.” At RANGEfire! we acknowledge our virtual neighbors on this virtual landscape. We think it is important for people to have an opportunity to hear all sides of the story, and know what others are saying about these issues. So we often share what others are saying.
http://rangefire.us/wp-content/uploa.../09/PP-G-1.jpgWHAT OTHERS (PP-G) ARE SAYING
According to the PP-G Editorial Board, “for 41 days earlier this year, Ammon Bundy and a group of armed ranchers occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon. The occupiers, who brandished weapons and threatened federal officers, also made it clear that they didn’t recognize the government’s authority to own or even manage public land. They recognize no law above themselves.
When the occupiers were finally arrested Jan. 26 on a road in the refuge, not all of them surrendered peacefully. One of their members, Robert LaVoy Finicum, was shot and killed by an officer who thought he was reaching for a gun. Finicum actually believed the violent rhetoric that his cohorts gave lip service to when they weren’t surrounded and outgunned and paid for it with his life. He died while his friends turned themselves in without a fight.
http://rangefire.us/wp-content/uploa...-1-300x215.png
Now that the trial of Ammon Bundy, his brother Ryan and five others has begun, their excuses for armed defiance of the government sound even hollower. In opening arguments this week, a defense lawyer insisted that Mr. Bundy never threatened anyone and that the charge of conspiracy to impede federal officers through threat and intimidation was unjust. If this is the best defense the occupiers can muster, then things will not go well for the hapless rebels as they try to explain how the guns and ammo they opened displayed and pointed in their direction weren’t intended to intimidate.
Still, it is to the credit of the American justice system that the occupiers, who claim to be beyond the government’s jurisdiction, are entitled to a vigorous defense. Their arguments, no matter how absurd, will be heard. Because we live under a system of laws and not posses operating in the Wild West, judgment will be rendered accordingly.
RANGE / RANGEFIRE! — Addressing Issues Facing the West / Spreading America’s Cowboy Spirit Beyond the Outback
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
Thom Davis and Rene Powers post on the felon who testified for the prosecution
BLEULER? BLEULER? FED PROSECUTORS CALL ON COMPROMISED WITNESS FOR THEIR TRUTH TO BE SPOKEN?
THE COWBOY AND THE LADY·TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2016
On September 19, 2016, Nick Bleuler, witness for the Federal Prosecutors in the US vs. BUNDY et al, gave testimony against the Constitutional Posse led by Ammon Bundy. We have some questions about the credibility of this man and the relationship of his testimony to possible deals with the prosecution? Bleuler is another in the long list of felons who wound up in the inner circle of the Refuge Stand Up.
Bleuler testified regarding the removal of the spy cameras that were found upon telephone poles in the Refuge area. Blueler testified following what we opine is confused testimony of fish biologist Linda Beck, refuge employee. We want to speak briefly to the crazy testimony of Beck.
Beck testified to an event she said was to have been held at the refuge, a BIG fishing event in January, an event that was interrupted by the occupation of the Refuge. Hello? January? The water was frozen folks? Beck later was corrected by Ammon Bundy’s attorney, Mumford, that the event was actually scheduled for April, not January. Beck also testified her desk was a total mess when she returned and that the refuge was trashed by the Occupiers, but we evidence shows the day Lavoy Finicum was assassinated, January 26, the men left the Refuge buildings in orderly condition. Mumford had a befuddled Beck admit that the FBI could have been the ones who trashed the Refuge, she was just speculating.
What we see is a continued prosecution case of fabricated and coached testimony. The Cowboy was given information that the witnesses for the prosecution were actually being coached by the prosecutors with what to say as they were testifying. It was said that the leading was done through possible hand signals and facial expressions as well.
Bleuler and Becks testimony is in this story by the Oregonian by Maxine Bernstein: http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-st...
...FBI License Plate Reader Cameras Removed Before the day ended, prosecutors called 23-year-old Nick Bleuler to the stand. The Harney County resident said he drove to the refuge the night of Jan. 2 in his fiancé's 2008 Ford Crown Victoria. When they pulled up to the front gate, about 10 to 15 men with guns pointed the barrels of their firearms at the car."They took a strong posture because they thought we were FBI or law enforcement,'' he testified. He drove home, but returned two more times to do guard duty in the watchtower. On Jan. 15, he also helped Ryan Bundy, Finicum and others remove FBI cameras from two utility poles – one on Highway 205 about 25 miles north of the refuge, and another on the eastern edge of the refuge.A video of the occupiers removing the cameras showed one man holding a ladder. "That be me,'' Bleuler told jurors.While Finicum is captured on the video saying he'll give the cameras back to the FBI if they come to their next press conference, Ryan Bundy is audible in the background saying, "I'm not sure we'll give it to them. You might.''Blueler, a three-time felon on probation for child endangerment, said his friend was arrested on Jan. 25 for theft of the cameras. He wasn't, because he "hid,'' but did end up talking to FBI agents later. Asked if he received any promises from federal officials for his testimony, Blueler said he did not, but defense lawyers noted he was put up at a hotel for three nights to enable his appearance in court. Blueler said he didn't have a firearm at the refuge, but went in support of the Harney County ranchers, and to protest "land grabs.''At one point during cross-examination, Ammon Bundy's lawyer Marcus Mumford asked Blueler why he was smiling or laughing,'' and Blueler replied, "Because you're pissing me off.''Mumford continued his questions. Blueler responded mostly with one-syllable answers, and looked down at his lap when he spoke, barely making eye contact with those questioning him."I appreciate it Nick,'' Ryan Bundy told him, completing his cross-examination. "Thank you for coming.''
We did not have to look far for information of Bleulers arrests and bad choices or behavior. Why is it that those who were saying they were “vetting” so many around the refuge allowed this young man to do guard duty and participate? That strange question that keeps coming back time and time again, “Why did the Bundy’s allow so many questionable characters inside their circle?” Was it that those who were vetting were not actually vetting to help them? One has to ask.
REMOVAL OF CAMERA FOOTAGE:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kg9...
A quick search of Bleuler found he has had his own demons to battle in his life, not just testifying for the prosecution, but also in defense of himself for local problems and scrapes he himself has had with the law, as mentioned in testimony regarding his past. We find it interesting that he was not arrested because he hid, yet now sits on the stand testifying? Bleuler was arrested in October, November AND December 2015 leading up to the occupation, but not since? It would be commonsense to draw the conclusion that he has not been charged or arrested himself in exchange for his testimony, both the prosecution and Bleuler deny those claims.
Here is a sampling of what we know, this is not all that he has, but all we care to dig for as this would seem enough to have been a red flag to have him participate in the Refuge event:
Blueler spoke in a court proceeding on behalf of his experience in a treatment program in Harney. In The County Court of the State of Oregon for Harney County Minutes of the County Court April 23, 2014 http://www.co.harney.or.us/PDF_File...
October 15, 2015 https://jailalert.com/arrest-record... Nickolas Bleuler
Arrest record information Arrest Date [1]:10/15/2015 Agency:Harney County Sheriff's Office State: Oregon County:Harney County Record Date [2]:Oct. 18, 2015, 4:05 p.m.
UTCTracking number:4212217 Share this record: Request Full Record Person information First Name NICKOLAS Last Name BLEULER Gender Male Age at Arrest 22 Year of Birth1993
Arrest Record Overview for Nickolas Dean Bleuler APRIL 14, 2014
First Name: NICKOLAS
Last Name: BLEULER
Middle Name: DEAN
Gender: Male
Race: White
Arrest Date: 2016-04-14 12:00:00
State: Oregon
County: Harney
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Brown
Weight: 140
Height: 507
ARRESTED NOVEMBER 16, 2015
http://www.policearrests.com/arrests/nickolas_dean_bleuler_id_30088767.html
Nickolas Dean Bleuler was arrested on November 16, 2015 in Harney, Oregon on charges of RESTRA ORD. He is 507 tall, with brown hair, blue eyes and weighs 140 pounds. Per the United States judicial system, Bleuler is presumed innocent until proven guilty. More information on this arrest may be obtained from local police at Harney County Law Enforcement. HE WAS ARRESTED FOR VIOLATING A RESTRAINING ORDER
ARRESTED DECEMBER 2, 2015 First Name: NICKOLAS
Last Name: BLEULER
Middle Name: DEAN
Gender: Male
Race: White
Arrest Date: 2015-12-02 12:00:00
State: Oregon
County: Harney
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Brown
Weight: 140
Height: 507
Arrest Record Overview for Nickolas Dean Bleuler May 26, 2015
First Name: NICKOLAS
Last Name: BLEULER
Middle Name: DEAN
Gender: Male
Race: White
Arrest Date: 2015-05-26 12:00:00
Eye Color: Blue
Hair Color: Brown
Weight: 140
Height: 507
Total Bond: $25,000
____________
*on a note: When Bleuler was arrested for strangulation he was also in possession of heroin.
Well folks, another day, another felon to add to the list.
Thom & Rene’
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
Defendant Jeff Banta was able to speak with Ryan and Ammon Bundy today:
Jeff Banta
26 mins
Today I got the chance to converse with Ryan and Ammon, for the first time we were able to say sentences. which is more than the usual " morning", which I found out early on while talking to David Fry, was about all the marshals were going to allow. So it was very nice. Ryan told me he's doing pretty good and that it had gotten a little better in the last couple weeks. He explained he was focused on getting close to the Lord, and I expressed that I was working at doing the same. Ryan is doing a very good job defending himself, all the while showing great respect for every witness he cross exams. He is only being himself and I'm sure the jury can see what a descent man he truly is.
I told him that I had saw a video on Facebook of his mom talking to his dad, and explained that it sounded to me that Cliven was holding up well. To this he agreed, but said his brother Davey was currently having a tough time with his situation. So I ask on Ryan's behalf that all of us do what we can to reach out to Davey ,and show him our support anyway we can, wether it be a simple letter or even financial support to his family.
Really all the Bundy families need support, so I sincerely hope you do what you can. I believe whatever charity we give we get back at our own time of need.
Next I spoke to Ammon, he was sitting with scriptures opened in front of him so I hated to interrupt, but I did disturb him briefly. As always like the videos we all have seen , he was soft spoken and kind. Our conversation was short. Just so everyone knows, this was only the second time I have ever spoken to both these men in my life. I met each of them the day before La Voy was murdered. And our conversation was very short. I am extremely proud to be in the same company with these two men.
David Fry sits directly in front of me and we converse often even though he is routinely reprimanded for it, but we manage to do it anyway. David seems to be dealing pretty well . Often asking me to have a good lunch for them. Like Ammon and Ryan, David also is respected highly.
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
Malheur Protest trial Day 6 reported by Rangfire,
http://rangefire.us/2016/09/13/ongoi...ge-commentary/
DAY 6 — Tueday, September 20, 2016
The Goverment is moving through its case fairly quickly, and has indicated that it will probably rest its case about next Monday or Tuesday, which means that the government will have put on its entire case in less than two weeks. Exactly what does that mean? More important than quantity is the quality of the government’s evidence. One of the reasons we are summarizing the evidence is so that you can judge for yourself whether the Government has proven beyond a reasonable doubt that there was a conspiracy to impede and interfere with federal officers, and exactly who was a part of that conspiracy.
Today the Government presented evidence through Harney County Deputy, Lucas McLain, FBI Special Agent Ben Jones, FBI surveillance pilot Jeffrey Cleveland, and four MNWR employees, including Ryan Curtis, Jesse Wenick, Shane Theall and Edward Moulton.
The employees testified about their absence from the refuge during January and early February, based on instructions from their supervisors, and the condition they found the premises in when they returned. They testified that they found things “messy and rummaged through,” and about government vehicles and equipment that had been used by the Defendants. Once again, social media evidence, including Facebook and YouTube images and videos were used to document such usage, and the parties involved.
Deputy McLain testified about transporting the defendants, including Ammon Bundy, shortly after their initial arrest, before handing them off to the FBI for transportation to Portland. He said that he discovered Ammon had been talking on his cell phone.
Part of my role in this whole alternative media coverage equation is to provide commentary, so I’m going to provide more of that in this segment. Like I have mentioned in some of the longer pieces I have written about the trial, I have people ask me all the time why the Government is presenting some of the evidence it is — including the fact that Ammon talked on his cell phone after he was arrested. My answer is “I don’t know.” They ask me all the time, what, if anything, this kind of evidence does to
support the Government’s case. And again, it http://rangefire.us/wp-content/uploa...-1-300x213.jpgleaves me scratching my head too. Is this the best evidence the Government has of an alleged conspiracy — the fact that Ammon Bundy would call his wife to tell her that he had been arrested? Or, that Victoria Sharp, who was also being transported (but has never been charged), and over the course of several hours of detention had repeatedly requested to be allowed to relieve herself, but had been denied, so eventually she had no choice but to urinate in the vehicle. Is this the best evidence they have? How does it help the Government’s case? Good question. I can only speculate that it is intended to show that they don’t follow orders well — when Victoria Sharp, who isn’t even a defendant in the case, is ordered to hold it indefinitely, she just didn’t play by the rules. Likewise, when Ammon Bundy and the others were ordered to be quiet, that whispering to his wife on his cell phone was a violation of that command. The government is trying to show that all of them are renegade rule-breakers who don’t do everything they’re told.
Deputy McLain testified that he and FBI Agent Ben Jones searched the defendants, and found $8000 cash in an envelope in Ammon’s jacket pocket, including a receipt showing that he had withdrawn it from his account the previous day (1/25) in Idaho. In his wallet they found receipts, dated 1/1/2016 from a BiMart in Nampa, Idaho, showing purchases of winter boots, Federal ammunition, and three cheap rifle scopes. But Ammon was not armed at the time, and no evidence has been presented that he was ever armed at the Refuge.
When Ammon’s attorney, Marcus Mumford, asked Agent Jones if there was anything illegal about withdrawing cash or buying ammunition or rifle scopes, he had to admit that there was not anything illegal about it. The insinuation was that Ammon intended to be at the Refuge for a long time..
On cross examination, Ryan Bundy asked MNWR fire management officer, Shane Theall, if he had ever had any prescribed burns burn more than the area intended, to which he responded that he had. Ryan then asked him if he had ever been charged with arson terrorism for doing that, to which the government objected, and moved to strike the question. Ryan Bundy also asked FBI surveillance pilot Jeff Cleveland if he liked spying on his fellow Americans, to which the government again objected and moved to strike.
In their cross examinations of the witnesses, the defendants and their attorneys asked numerous questions to which the Government objected, with Judge Brown virtually always sustaining their objections. At several points Judge Brown admonished them that she was going to cut of any further cross examination if they tried to probe any further. Although the Government is on the offensive, and has the burden of proof, if there is one way its case can be characterized, it is “defensive.” The government is very defensive about its own actions, and anything to do with its own motives — which Judge Brown has said are not on trial in this case.
http://rangefire.us/wp-content/uploa...-1-300x268.jpg
But the biggest news in the case today did not come in the Government’s case, any of the witnesses it called, or any of the evidence it presented. The biggest news came via notice filed by Defendant Shawna Cox accusing the Government of coaching its witnesses on the witness stand. Cox filed an affidavit in support of her motion, signed by someone else observing the trial, stating that in addition to the prosecuting attorneys, the Government also has a team of people who come into the courtroom on an alternating basis and coach the witnesses through hand signals, etc. According to the affidavit, based on vantage points in the crowed court room, virtually the only people who can actually see what is going on are the witnesses and the judge. According to the affidavit, the team coaching Sheriff David Ward including FBI Special Agent in Charge, Greg Bretziong, and Oregon U.S. Attorney Billy Williams. Of course the government denied that anything akin to witness coaching was going on.
I am going to have to admit that Shawna Cox, who represents herself, has made some bizarre filings in this case, but this is one that I’m not going to have the same knee-jerk reaction to that many do and automatically reject it. The reason I’m not is based on my own experiences and observations. I’ve seen this sort of thing happen.
Almost exactly three years ago I was trying a six day jury trial in federal court here in Utah. It was a civil rights case against a local county that I had inherited from one of my local attorney friends who had been killed in a car accident. Base on what I spend most of my time doing, I hadn’t tried a case in some time. At one point in the case I had one of the county commissioners on the stand for a day and half. Because he was an adverse witness, I was able to use leading questions in my direct examination. He started out very smug and cavalier in his testimony. When court adjourned for the day after I had been examining this witness for several hours, one of the court observers told me that the county’s insurance defense attorney had been clearly coaching and signalling the witness during the examination, and the witness was continually looking to the attorney for cues. This person suggested that I position myself http://rangefire.us/wp-content/uploa...-1-300x277.jpgbetween the witness and his attorney to help prevent that from happening. The next morning I too noticed that the witness was always looking to his attorney for signals and direction. Unlike the Oregon Standoff trial where the attorney remain seated to conduct their examinations, in most trials attorneys are allowed to stand and even roam as they ask questions. In that case I was careful to place myself so that I would obstruct the witness’s view of his attorney. Big beads of sweat started to form on his brow. He really started to squirm, and his attorney objected to my location in the courtroom, to which the judge said she found nothing wrong with it. At that point I did back up a little bit, but continued to carefully block the witness’ view. Left to testify without coaching, eventually the witness completely fell apart. He became very emotional, and blurted out that he thought the plaintiff in the case was a real jerk, and he had no reservation bending the law to stick it to him. So based on my own personal experiences, I am not going to reject Cox’s notice so lightly. It actually seems consistent with what I have observed in the case so far.
RANGE / RANGEFIRE! — Addressing Issues Facing the West / Spreading America’s Cowboy Spirit Beyond the Outback
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
Todays testimony reveals Mark McConnell was one of .gov's informant, something most of us have realized since January. Apparently there were more.
And no story would be complete without all the juicy gossip . . . . . .
AN INSIDE TIP GIVEN MONTHS AGO TO THE LADY BY ONE WHO CALLED HIMSELF A FED WORKING THE REFUGE CASE.
THE COWBOY AND THE LADY·WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2016
It is normal for tips to be called into the Cowboy and The Lady, but none more interesting than the one by a man who told a tale the Lady, i, could not share until now, until the fact was known so that the information about McConnell being undercover would not be attacked. The full call of information is still not vetted, but it sure leaves me wondering if all i was told was true, he insisted it was.
It was a late night in February when i got a cryptic message. It was from a man who said he was a Federal Agent, but he could not give his real name, though he had information to share. He said he was very upset about what went on, could not share his name but knew that the entire event at the Refuge was staged and infiltrated beyond anyones wildest imagination. Being weary of false information the call was not spoken of, until today.
The man had a fake profile on Facebook and had been following my work for sometime. He felt my work was truthful and sought to get evidence and correct information before sharing. He said, “Mark McConnell is a Federal Agent”. McConnell was outed by a friend he knew and when the trial started the truth would be seen. Upon hearing those words i knew that it was not something that could be put to print until the trial gave this fact into evidence.
i can’t be sure, but the story is one that others may want to look into as this case has more twists and turns than a winding road around a mountain side, full of cliffs and fall offs that are dangerous. See the cliff and you can avoid it, miss it and you could fall over the edge. Well, i was not about to fall over the cliff and say McConnell was a fed until the evidence i was told would come out at trial, and it did. Now, i share this interview and information with you. Do you have the answers to whether it is all real or not? i had no way of knowing, but it was a tale of a story no less...here it is, the questions i asked in bold and his answers follow:
Who are you? “I am an agent who actually worked this case, but on leave now, the PTSD from the job has caused me to go out on leave. But, i know that many of the men inside are informants.
How do you know? “Well, a woman who is a sister of a lead agent went in undercover as the EMT who went in the night of the attempt to take the baby from the Refuge”.
What baby? “The baby that was there with the mother always talked about in McConnells first interviews.”
You mean the one Mark McConnell says he helped get out of the refuge because she was scared? “Yes”
Who is she? “She is Blaine Coopers mistress and the baby is his”.
What? Does everyone know this? “i am not sure, but if i know then suffice it to say others do”.
So what happened with the attempt to save the baby and why? “ Well, since there were drones over the Refuge with heat detectors and such we could see the baby’s temperature was dropping because of the cold and it was determined that we needed to attempt a rescue mission to save the baby.”
How?“A high ranking Federal Agent, one in charge of this case, had a sister who was trained military and had medical training. This woman was going to go undercover in an ambulance as an EMT and attempt to get the baby out. When she was at the FBI center getting ready to take off McConnell hit on her, at that time she saw his badge and gun. She told him that he had no idea who she was but that he better leave her alone if he knew what was good for him as he didn’t know who her brother was.”
Wow! So, you are saying that they took a team in and the woman actually saw a badge and gun on McConnell? “YES!”
What happened because the baby left later with McConnell not an ambulance?“Well, when they got to the Refuge it was dark, Ryan Payne met them out of the dark with a gun pointed at them in defense of others as it was a surprise and no one at the refuge expected them.”
A Surprise? How, they had a watch tower. “i am not sure, but we know it took the men at the refuge by surprise when it was an EMT and they were saying loudly that they were there to get the baby”.
Holy Crap! How do i know this is real and true? “I don’t know, but you will have to figure it out, all I can tell you is it is.”
DON’T SHOOT THE MESSENGER FOLKS, i am just sharing what information i was given, let’s see if we can find the answer? Is Blaine Cooper the baby daddy? Or was this all a made up tale to get me to put out that McConnell was an informant early to be jaded in our articles to be able to discredit us? i have no idea, so read this and like me ask, “what in the hell was i just told?”. Short of a paternity test we don’t know, but seems others do. As the story turns...
The Lady/Rene’
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Maria Carrillo, Ron Gilbert, Thaddeus Deane and 6 others like this.
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Floyd Breshears Wow , ! , you sure like dropping bombshells,
1 · 3 hours ago
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net...9f0d362fc59b93
The Cowboy and the Lady well, i have sat on this for so long i was wondering if it would ever be shared...now it is out and others can do what they will with the info...the call has haunted me for months.
3 · 3 hours ago
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Thaddeus Deane Interesting...
3 · 2 hours ago
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net...daa1039b49148b
William Fry "But I know that MANY of the men inside are informants."
THAT IS DAMN FRIGHTENING!!...See More
4 · about an hour ago
https://www.facebook.com/notes/the-c...50272535042464
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
Ryan Bundy questions witness about contolled burns . . . . Posted on Bundy Ranch Facebook
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net...51706a6036dec4
Chandie Morse Bartell Love it- Asked by defendant Ryan Bundy, who is representing himself, if he ever had any prescribed burns burn more than the area intended, Theall said yes.
"Have you ever been prosecuted as a domestic terrorist for that?" Ryan Bundy followed up. The judge asked jurors to disregard the question after she sustained an objection from a prosecutor
6 · 11 hrs
https://fbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net...c27b6ad2ca45df
Rose Phelps Heaven forbid that he brings some truth to the proceedings. That's what the Hammonds did and so Theall should be in prison too
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
A facebook video from Jason Patrick regarding todays proceeding; LaVoy's death was glossed over, Jason Patrick is visibly upset
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1717...3361456543396/
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
Its all about jurisdiction.
http://outpost-of-freedom.com/blog/?p=1673#more-1673
Burns Chronicles No 29 – Public Lands – Part 2 – The Federal Government Has No Jurisdiction
http://outpost-of-freedom.com/blog/w...ed-300x283.jpg
Gary Hunt
Outpost of Freedom
September 13, 2016
In a previous article, “It’s a Matter of Jurisdiction“, we looked at the constitutional aspect of jurisdiction. Many will simply ignore that aspect, since they believe that the government is not bound by the Constitution, anymore. So, we must wonder whether those who enacted laws, more recently, regarding jurisdiction, especially on lands that were obtained for certain purposes, were as doubtful of the intent of the Constitution.
The original buildings on the Refuge were built during the Great Depression under one of the various work programs intended to provide employment. The land that they were built on was acquired by the government on February 18, 1935. The remainder of the government-owned land in Section 35, as the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge was expanded, was acquired on November 22, 1948.
Shortly after the first parcel was acquired, on April 27, 1935, Congress enacted “AN ACT To provide for the protection of land resources against soil erosion, and for other purposes”, at 49 STAT 163. Those “other purposes did include uses anticipated “to preserve public lands and relieve unemployment“. That Act applied:
(a) On lands owned or controlled by the United States or any of its agencies, with the cooperation of the agency having jurisdiction thereof; and
(b) On any other lands, upon obtaining proper consent or the necessary rights or interests in such lands.
So, it was recognized that the federal government need not have jurisdiction, but more about why, later.
The benefits of the Act would be extended where local government would extend “reasonable safeguards for the enforcement of State and local laws imposing suitable permanent restrictions on the use of such lands…”
So, we see no effort to presume prior jurisdiction, to make all needful rules and regulations, as per Article IX, § 3, cl. 2, or to presume a necessity to require the State to cede the lands to the federal government, as per Article I, § 8, cl. 17, since there were no “Forts, Magazines, Arsenals, dock-Yards, and other needful Buildings”.
Then, on June 29, 1936, Congress went even further in abiding by the Constitution by clarifying their position on “exclusive Legislation in all Cases whatsoever” (I:8:17), with “AN ACT To waive any exclusive jurisdiction over premises of resettlement or rural-rehabilitation projects…; and for other purposes”, at 49 STAT 2035.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the acquisition by the United States of any real property heretofore or hereafter acquired for any resettlement project or any rural-rehabilitation project for resettlement purposes heretofore or hereafter constructed with funds allotted or transferred to the Resettlement Administration pursuant to the Emergency Relief Appropriation Act of 1935, or any other law, shall not be held to deprive any State or political subdivision thereof of its civil and criminal jurisdiction in and over such property, or to impair the civil rights under the local law of the tenants or inhabitants on such property ; and insofar as any such jurisdiction has been taken away from any such State or subdivision, or any such rights have been impaired, jurisdiction over any such property is hereby ceded back to such State or subdivision.
So, not only did they relinquish all “civil or criminal jurisdiction“, but they ceded back any jurisdiction that had been taken away from any State or subdivision. Now the record had been set straight, in accordance with the Constitution.
.
However, to reinforce that position, we can look to a much more recent statute at 40 US Code 3112. Title 40 is titled “Public Buildings, Property and Works”. § 3112 is titled “Federal Jurisdiction”. So, here is what the Statute says:
(a) Exclusive Jurisdiction Not Required. – It is not required that the Federal Government obtain exclusive jurisdiction in the United States over land or an interest in land it acquires.
Well, that is certainly well established, by now.
(b) Acquisition and Acceptance of Jurisdiction. – When the head of a department, agency, or independent establishment of the Government, or other authorized officer of the department, agency, or independent establishment, considers it desirable, that individual may accept or secure, from the State in which land or an interest in land that is under the immediate jurisdiction, custody, or control of the individual is situated, consent to, or cession of, any jurisdiction over the land or interest not previously obtained. The individual shall indicate acceptance of jurisdiction on behalf of the Government by filing a notice of acceptance with the Governor of the State or in another manner prescribed by the laws of the State where the land is situated.
So, they can obtain jurisdiction, though if offered by the State, they still have to file a written notice of acceptance. In the current matter, the government has not proffered any evidence of anything beyond ownership, but more on this, below.
(c) Presumption. – It is conclusively presumed that jurisdiction has not been accepted until the Government accepts jurisdiction over land as provided in this section.
And, that pretty much sums up the absence of federal jurisdiction in the current matter. Put simply, there is no federal jurisdiction at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, the alleged scene of most of the alleged crimes.
But let’s look at what the government, rather gratuitously, provided in implying their right to pursue criminal charges that if true, as alleged, would be under the jurisdiction of the State or County, not the Federal District Court in Portland. The Government filed a “Motion for Judicial Notice Regarding Ownership of the MNWR Headquarters Area“. This Motion was supported by another filing, the “Declaration of Charles Houghten“, providing the documentation of Ownership.
However, Shawna Cox saw through this ploy. She did not dispute the Ownership of the land, though she filed her “Response to and Motion for Judicial Notice Regarding Ownership & Ceding of the MNWR Headquarters Area“. In her Motion, she stipulated as to federal ownership and asked the Court to take Judicial Notice that the land had not been ceded to the federal government.
So, it is back in the lap of the federal government to prove that they have jurisdiction over criminal matters at the MNWR, in Harney County, Oregon.
So, let’s do a count down on the Counts:
Count 1 – Conspiracy to Impede Officers of the United States – 18 U.S.C. § 372
This is the single charge that may have merit, though that will be the topic of an upcoming article, and it has to do with a law enacted during the Civil War and the definition of the terms used.
Count 2 – Possession of Firearms and Dangerous Weapons in Federal Facilities – 18 U.S.C. §§ 930(b) and 2)
This was discussed in “Firearms Not Allowed“, where the government’s own brochure accedes to State law.
Count 3 – Use and Carry of a Firearm in Relation to a Crime of Violence – 18 U.S.C. §§ 924(c)(l)(A) and 2)
This was Dismissed, as there was no violence on which to base the charge.
Count 4 – Theft of Government Property – 18 U.S.C. § 641 (Medenbach)
Count 5 – Theft of Government Property – 18 U.S.C. § 641 (Ritzheimer & R. Bundy)
Count 6 – Depredation of Government Property – 18 U.S.C. §§ 1361 and 2
These Counts (4, 5, &6) are purely jurisdictional, as was explained in “It’s a Matter of Jurisdiction“. As demonstrated in that article, those who rubbed shoulders with the Founders realized that to have criminal jurisdiction, the land upon which the property was located and crime occurred had to have been ceded, along with jurisdiction, for it to be a federal crime.
So, at this point, with the exception of Count 1, Reason, Common Sense, and Justice dictate that the government is simply wasting tax dollars and has denied the Liberty, which they are supposed to protect, of all 26 of the Defendants.
How has this country come to the point that the federal government can run roughshod over the rights of the States, and more importantly, the rights of the People?
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
Todd Macfarlane updates with Day 7
http://rangefire.us/2016/09/13/ongoi...ge-commentary/
http://rangefire.us/wp-content/uploa...ssession-1.jpg
ONGOING: OREGON STANDOFF TRIAL — COVERAGE & COMMENTARY
September 13, 2016 - Government/Politics, Oregon Standoff, Public Lands, Todd Macfarlane - Tagged: Bundy, federal government, Malheur, Oregon Standoff, Range, RANGEfire, trial - 16 comments
RANGEFIRE! is your source for “live” commentary and coverage of the Oregon Standoff Trial.
At RANGEFIRE! we recognize that there are multiple sides to every story. For contrasting perspectives, you can also For contrasting MSM perspectives and reporting, you can also follow Maxine Bernstein for OregonLive, and Conrad Wilson for Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB). We believe there needs to be an alternative voice to mainstream media commentary and coverage of these issues.
Working in combination with a consortium of alternative media outlets, including Newsbud/BFP, RANGE magazine, Free Range Report, Oregon Standoff News, Rural Route Radio, Loos Tales, and Redoubt News, etc., RANGEFIRE! will be providing coverage, and commentary, including some short video updates and deeper commentary regarding the OREGON STANDOFF TRIAL.
Note: We will be adding video clips and written coverage and commentary on an ongoing basis, so scroll down to find new clips and coverage segments as the trial progresses.
INTRODUCTION — GETTING STARTED
DAY 1 — Tuesday, September 13, 2016
OPENING STATEMENTS — the Defendants and their Attorneys
COURTROOM COLOR COMMENTARY
Todd Macfarlane's video commentary at link:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIQ...i9l0hWQ2MDrd_w
BACKGROUND COLOR — SECURITY & TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGES
OPENING STATEMENTS — One Size Doesn’t Fit All
OPENING STATEMENTS — Public Lands Policy on Trial
OPENING STATEMENTS — It Was All About the Hammonds
DAY 2 — Wednesday, September 14, 2016
GOVERNMENT WITNESS TESTIMONY
HARNEY COUNTY SHERIFF DAVID WARD
BUTCH EATON & LT. BRIAN NEEDHAM
Defendant Ken Medenbach in a media interview outside the courthouse
DAY 3 — Thursday, September 15, 2016
NEWSBUD PERISCOPE INTERVIEW Regarding Trial Updates up to this point
BUTCH EATON CROSS EXAMINATION
CHAD KARGES EXAMINATION (Sorry About the Misspelling on the Videos)
DAY 4 — Friday, September 16, 2016
NEWSBUD PERISCOPE INTERVIEW re: Trial Updates
JEFF ROSE
FBI SOCIAL MEDIA WITNESSES
MOTION FOR MISTRIAL
BACKGROUND COLOR — Jeff Banta / Trent Loos
Defendant Jeff Banta eating lunch at the Portland Federal Courthouse
Note: Since we don’t have unlimited resources, RANGEFIRE editor, Todd Macfarlane, will not be able to report live from Portland during the entire trial. Based on other contacts and connections in Portland, however, we will be providing both written and video updates, even when Macfarlane is not on the ground at the trial. These reports will be based on – information, but will hopefully help interested parties follow developments in the case as it progresses.
DAY 5 — Monday, September 19, 2016.
Today, the government’s first witness was Linda Beck, a MNWR fish biologist, whose office Ammon Bundy used during the occupation. She testified about her duties at the refuge, and the government’s efforts to remove invasive carp fish from the shallow lakes. During both the government’s opening statement, and during Beck’s direct examination, it was stated that the Refuge had planned to bring in a commercial fishing enterprise during the month of January, to help remove the carp. This representation certainly raised eyebrows because the water would have been frozen, and it was difficult to understand how a commercial fishing effort would work under those conditions. On cross examination, however, Beck admitted that the commercial fishing effort was actually planned and scheduled for April. Beck also testified that despite the fact that she had not been at the refuge during the month of January, she continued to work and do her job, and was paid, just like all the other refuge employees were. She said that when she returned to the refuge her office was a big mess, and looked like it had been trashed, but on cross examination she admitted that she didn’t know who had made the mess, and couldn’t say that it might not have been the FBI that made the mess. One of the most important points of Beck’s testimony came when she was shown a photo of a whiteboard
in her office. http://rangefire.us/wp-content/uploa...-3-300x159.jpg
When the image of the Whiteboard was blown-up to see what it said, at the top of the board were the words “Adverse Possession,” with elements listed under that heading. Beck testified that neither she, nor any other refuge employees had written these things on the whiteboard.
Carla Burnside, the Refuge archeologist testified that the refuge headquarters had actually been built on top of an archeological site — back before it was unlawful to do that. She acknowledged that there are thousands of artifacts housed in a basement on the Refuge, that have never been displayed, and there is no current plan to display them.
Videos were shown of messages Ammon Bundy allegedly posted on social media, along with Blaine Cooper, Jon Ritzheimer and Jason Patrick. In Ritzheimer’s video, he says “we will never fire unless fired upon.” In Ammon Bundy’s video, after telling reporters that he had been in Harney County for two months working to try to do something to help Dwight and Steven Hammond, Ammon says “We feel we have exhausted all prudent measures and have been ignored.
”
Twenty-three year-old Nick Bleuler testified that when he arrived at the refuge on January 2nd, the day the occupation began, he encountered men with rifles. Bleuler said that he didn’t have a firearm, but went to the refuge to support the Hammonds, and to protest land grabs. He testified that he helped take down the FBI cameras installed at the Refuge, near the headquarters, which among other things, recorded all license plates coming and going at the refuge.
DAY 6 — Tueday, September 20, 2016
The Government is moving through its evidence fairly quickly, and has indicated that it will probably rest its case about next Monday or Tuesday, which means that the government will have put on its entire case in less than two weeks. Exactly what does that mean? More important than quantity is the quality of the government’s evidence. One of the reasons we are summarizing the evidence is so that you can judge for yourself whether the Government has presented sufficient evidence to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that there was a conspiracy to impede and interfere with federal officers, and exactly who was a part of that conspiracy.
Today the Government presented evidence through Harney County Deputy, Lucas McLain, FBI Special Agent Ben Jones, FBI surveillance pilot Jeffrey Cleveland, and four MNWR employees, including Ryan Curtis, Jesse Wenick, Shane Theall and Edward Moulton.
The employees testified about their absence from the refuge during January and early February, based on instructions from their supervisors, and the condition they found the premises in when they returned. They testified that they found things “messy and rummaged through,” and about government vehicles and equipment that had been used by the Defendants. Once again, social media evidence, including Facebook and YouTube images and videos were used to document such usage, and the parties involved.
Deputy McLain testified about transporting the defendants, including Ammon Bundy, shortly after their initial arrest, before handing them off to the FBI for transportation to Portland. He said that he discovered Ammon had been talking on his cell phone.
Part of my role in this whole alternative media coverage equation is to provide commentary, so I’m going to provide more of that in this segment. Like I have mentioned in some of the longer pieces I have written about the trial, I have people ask me all the time why the Government is presenting some of the evidence it is — including the fact that Ammon talked on his cell phone after he was arrested. My answer is “I don’t know.” They ask me all the time, what, if anything, this kind of evidence does to support the Government’s case. And again, it eaves me scratching my head too. Is this the best evidence the Government has of an alleged conspiracy — the fact that Ammon Bundy would call his wife to tell her that he had been arrested? Or, that Victoria Sharp, who was also being transported (but has never been charged), and over the course of several hours of detention had repeatedly requested to be allowed to relieve herself, but had been denied, so eventually she had no choice but to urinate in the vehicle. Is this the best evidence they have? How does it help the Government’s case? Good question. I can only speculate that it is intended to show that they don’t follow orders well — when Victoria Sharp, who isn’t even a defendant in the case, is ordered to hold it indefinitely, she just didn’t play by the rules. Likewise, when Ammon Bundy and the others were ordered to be quiet, that whispering to his wife on his cell phone was a violation of that command. The government is trying to show that all of them are renegade rule-breakers who don’t do everything they’re told.
Deputy McLain testified that he and FBI Agent Ben Jones searched the defendants, and found $8000 cash in an envelope in Ammon’s jacket pocket, including a receipt showing that he had withdrawn it from his account the previous day (1/25) in Idaho. In his wallet they found receipts, dated 1/1/2016 from a BiMart in Nampa, Idaho, showing purchases of winter boots, Federal ammunition, and three cheap rifle scopes. But Ammon was not armed at the time, and no evidence has been presented that he was ever armed at the Refuge.
When Ammon’s attorney, Marcus Mumford, asked Agent Jones if there was anything illegal about withdrawing cash or buying ammunition or rifle scopes, he had to admit that there was not anything illegal about it. The insinuation was that Ammon intended to be at the Refuge for a long time..
On cross-examination, Ryan Bundy asked MNWR fire management officer, Shane Theall, if he had ever had any prescribed burns burn more than the area intended, to which he responded that he had. Ryan then asked him if he had ever been charged with arson terrorism for doing that, to which the government objected, and moved to strike the question. Ryan Bundy also asked FBI surveillance pilot Jeff Cleveland if he liked spying on his fellow Americans, to which the government again objected and moved to strike.
In their cross examinations of the witnesses, the defendants and their attorneys asked numerous questions to which the Government objected, with Judge Brown virtually always sustaining their objections. At several points Judge Brown admonished them that she was going to cut of any further cross-examination if they tried to probe any further. Although the Government is on the offensive, and has the burden of proof, if there is one way its case can be characterized, it is “defensive.” The government is very defensive about its own actions, and anything to do with its own motives — which Judge Brown has said are not on trial in this case.
http://rangefire.us/wp-content/uploa...-1-300x268.jpg
But the biggest development in the case today did not come in the Government’s case, through any of the witnesses it called, or any of the evidence it presented. The biggest news came via notice filed by Defendant Shawna Cox accusing the Government of coaching its witnesses on the witness stand. Cox filed an affidavit in support of her motion, signed by someone else observing the trial, stating that in addition to the prosecuting attorneys, the Government also has a team of people who come into the courtroom on an alternating basis and coach the witnesses through hand signals, etc. According to the affidavit, based on vantage points in the crowed court room, virtually the only people who can actually see what is going on are the witnesses and the judge. According to the affidavit, the team coaching Sheriff David Ward including FBI Special Agent in Charge, Greg Bretzing, and Oregon U.S. Attorney Billy Williams. Of course the government denied that anything akin to witness coaching was going on.
I am going to have to admit that Shawna Cox, who represents herself, has made some bizarre filings in this case, but this is one that I’m not going to have the same knee-jerk reaction to that many do and automatically reject it. The reason I’m not is based on my own experiences and observations. I’ve seen this sort of thing happen.
Almost exactly three years ago I was trying a six-day jury trial in federal court here in Utah. It was a civil rights case against a local county that I had inherited from one of my local attorney friends who had been killed in a car accident. Base on what I spend most of my time doing, I hadn’t tried a case in some time. At one point in the case I had one of the county commissioners on the stand for aabout a day and half. Because he was an adverse witness, I was able to use leading questions in my direct examination. He started out very smug and cavalier in his testimony. When court adjourned for the day after I had been examining this witness for several hours, one of the court observers told me that the county’s insurance defense attorney had been clearly coaching and signalling the witness during the examination, and the witness was continually looking to the attorney for cues. This person suggested that I position myself http://rangefire.us/wp-content/uploa...-1-300x277.jpgbetween the witness and his attorney to help prevent that from happening. The next morning I too noticed that the witness was always looking to his attorney for signals and direction. Unlike the Oregon Standoff trial where the attorney remain seated to conduct their examinations, in most trials attorneys are allowed to stand and even roam as they ask questions. In that case I was careful to place myself so that I would obstruct the witness’s view of his attorney. Big beads of sweat started to form on his brow. He really started to squirm, and his attorney objected to my location in the courtroom, to which the judge said she found nothing wrong with it. At that point I did back up a little bit, but continued to carefully block the witness’ view. Left to testify without coaching, eventually the witness completely fell apart. He became very emotional, and blurted out that he thought the plaintiff in the case was a real jerk, and he had no reservation bending the law to stick it to him. So based on my own personal experiences, I am not going to reject Cox’s notice so lightly. It actually seems consistent with what I have observed in the case so far.
MIDSTREAM BACKGROUND COLOR COMMENTARY
https://youtu.be/lJ7nKS1F9DU
Meanwhile Back at the Ranch — Color Commentary — Background Introduction
Commentary Regarding the Charges
https://youtu.be/Un1tE-YJ_HA
Clarification re: Theft Charge:
Misstated that the Theft of Government Property charge only applies to Defendant Ken Medenbach. Ryan Bundy is also charged with theft of government property based on alleged removal of the FBI surveillance cameras.
Commentary re: CONSPIRACY CHARGE
https://youtu.be/1Vk3ph9Frgs
Commentary re: ADVERSE POSSESSION
https://youtu.be/kf1DhYccNkc
http://rangefire.us/wp-content/uploa...ssession-1.jpg
Commentary re: JUDICIAL TRANSPARENCY
https://youtu.be/dhtAjkF0NSs
DAY 7 — Wednesday, September 21, 2016
Today, Oregon State Police Trooper Jeremiah Beckert confirmed what many have suspected for a long time — that Mark McConnell was a government informant, and was providing “intel” to the government for the arrest operation. Beckert also testified about the arrests of Ammon Bundy, Brian Cavalier, and supposedly Mark McConnell, who was immediately released and shortly afterward produced a video stating that he had seen the shooting of LaVoy Finicum and that Finicum had been “charging” the officers.
Judge Brown repeatedly warned the Defendants and their attorneys that discussing and questioning witnesses about the shooting of LaVoy Finicum was off-limits, but she allowed the government to ask questions about Finicum and the circumstances surrounding his shooting. In the afternoon, the government called Deschutes County Sheriff Detective Ron Brown to testify. He held up handguns, and claimed that they belonged to LaVoy Finicum, stating that one — with one round in the gun — was on Finicum’s person, and the other was found on the floorboard of his pickup, under the driver’s seat. He also held up .223 caliber rifles, and testified that they were found under the back seat of Finicum’s truck.
In light of the fact that Judge Brown has repeatedly stated the Finicum’s shooting death is completely irrelevant to the case, and her repeated warnings to the defendants and their attorneys about it, it is very interesting that she continues to allow the prosecution and its witnesses to talk about, and present evidence about it. Her apparent reasoning is that it helps support the charge of conspiracy to impede or interfere with federal officers. But she won’t allow the defendants to explore anything about it.
The prosecution also presented evidence about the remaining four “hold-outs” who remained at the refuge until their final surrender on February 11th. This evidence included photographs, and recordings of the negotiations between the FBI and the four last remaining hold-outs, including Jeff Banta, David Fry, and husband and wife, Sean & Sandra Anderson. This evidence was presented through FBI Special Agent Marc Maxwell, who was doing much of the negotiation for the FBI.
The prosecution played at least four recordings of telephone conversations between Maxwell and Jeff Banta. When Maxwell asked what they wanted, Banta said the main thing they wanted was the Hammonds released — this whole thing is about the Hammonds.
Banta also told Maxwell that they were concerned that they were going to be murdered just as LaVoy Finicum had been. Although Maxwell said they would be given safe passage to leave if they didn’t have any outstanding warrants, Banta and others in the background said they didn’t believe they could trust the FBI. Banta requested an independent third-party negotiator “that I can trust,” and suggested Reverend Franklin Graham, who was eventually contacted and became involved in the final negotiations. The government also played several of David Fry’s live streams from the refuge. By the end of the occupation, the four remaining hold-outs had removed themselves from the headquarters buildings, and were camping in a makeshift camp of their own in the West parking lot that they called “Camp Finicum” in honor of LaVoy. The goverment presented plenty of evidence that the last four hold-outs genuinely believed that they would probably meet the same fate as Finicum.
What follows is Shari Dovales’ report on Wednesday’s Proceedings, from ReDoubt News:
“The Malheur Protest Trial continued today with Judge Anna Brown repeating her orders to Ryan Bundy not to bring up the “FBI Cover-up”. “This is very serious controversy,” she told him. She warned him that if he attempted to bring up this point that she will have him removed from the courtroom and he will forfeit his right to represent himself.
Later in the morning, Oregon State Police (OSP) Trooper Jeremiah Beckert testified about January 26, 2016, the day the FBI and OSP set up an illegal Dead-man’s Roadblock
on Highway 395 north of Burns.http://i1.wp.com/redoubtnews.com/wp-...size=300%2C154
Beckert testified that Mark McConnell, driver of the jeep, was a cooperating government informant that tipped them off as to the vehicles, which occupants were in the vehicles, etc. Beckert told the court that McConnell was the only occupant of the jeep that was armed. The other two passengers, Ammon Bundy and Brian Cavalier, were not armed.
Beckert brought with him a 24-page statement to refresh his memory, but stated that most of the events were very clear in his mind. “This was a High Profile incident,” he stated. “A once in a lifetime event.”
When defense attorney Mumford questioned him about the legality of the events, Beckert said, “It is not my job to understand the laws. It is my job to do what my supervisor tells me.”
Beckert testified that he was assigned to apprehend the jeep during the operation to arrest the protesters. He was in an unmarked truck, and when he saw the jeep he hit his lights and sirens and went up behind them. After the arrests of the jeep passengers, Beckert drove off to assist with the vehicle driven by LaVoy Finicum.
http://i1.wp.com/redoubtnews.com/wp-...size=278%2C231
He testified that Finicum was on the ground and not moving when he arrived, and continued to describe the events after that, leading to the arrests of the remaining passengers.
Judge Brown attempted to limit how many details were discussed in front of the jury, but some made their way into open court. It was noted that no shots came from the truck, and several non-lethal rounds were shot towards the truck. The lethal rounds were not discussed.
“So the round that was shot into my shoulder, was it lethal or not lethal?” Ryan Bundy attempted to ask on cross-examination. This was another question that went unanswered.
Since the defendants perception is the main focus, it would have been nice to hear if they could have discerned the difference between lethal and non-lethal rounds being shot at them, however, the Judge was having none of that.
The prosecution has not presented a strong case, yet I am sure it will be enough for Judge Brown to send it to the jury. Let’s hope and pray that the jury is smart enough to see through them.
http://youtu.be/JxJJKgX_2iY
For contrasing perspectives and reporting, you can also follow Maxine Bernstein for OregonLive, and Conrad Wilson for Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB)
Reminder: the trial is only in session four days each week, so Thursday will be the last day this week, and will end early at 2:00 p.m.
RANGE / RANGEFIRE! — Addressing Issues Facing the West / Spreading America’s Cowboy Spirit Beyond the Outback
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
FBI paid a witness for access to his property. His testimony sound suspect to me.
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/i..._bundy_if.html
Judge to Ammon Bundy's lawyer: If he continues to defy her orders, she'll hold him in contempt
http://image.oregonlive.com/home/oli...977ad5f93e.jpg
U.S. District Judge Anna J. Brown on Thursday threatened to hold Ammon Bundy's lawyer in contempt of court each time he defies her order and tries to delve into the circumstances surrounding the officer-involved fatal shooting of refuge occupation spokesman Robert "LaVoy" Finicum in front of jurors.
The judge told attorney Marcus Mumford that she'd fine him $1,000 each time he raises the issue while questioning witnesses.
"I have ruled on this issue and it appears to me you disregard it,'' Brown told Mumford after excusing the jury for a morning restroom break.
"Do you understand what I'm saying ... yes or no?'' the judge asked Mumford as he was about to explain. She cut him off, requesting a simple answer, just as he's done to witnesses on the stand.
"I don't understand. Your honor says I'm asking improper questions?'' Mumford said.
The judge pointed to Mumford's questioning of rancher Andy Dunbar, whose property is adjacent to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, about what he learned on Jan. 26 about the fatal shooting of Finicum.
"You are not to do that,'' Brown said.
"You're telling me I'm allowed to inquire about the shooting, but not the circumstances of the shooting?'' Mumford asked.
Brown reminded him: Anything about Finicum's shooting death, beyond that it occurred and the date, isn't allowed to be discussed in front of jurors.
"I understand the words,'' Mumford told her.
"I hope you can comply,'' the judge said.
The admonition followed days of directions by the judge to Mumford about restricting his questions during cross-examination to the testimony elicited during prosecutors' direct examination of witnesses. She frequently sustained prosecutors' objections to Mumford's lines of questioning because they were either irrelevant or "beyond the scope'' of the direct testimony.
The judge instructed Mumford and all other attorneys to take it up with her without the jury present if they want to ask questions that go beyond her order.
Earlier Thursday, rancher Dunbar described how he noticed six vehicles headed to the refuge on Jan. 2 as he was having lunch with his wife at The Narrows campground restaurant.
"They're my closest neighbor,'' Dunbar said of the refuge.
He also testified that he heard shooting by the refuge boat launch on six different days. The launch is a little over a mile from his Dunbar Ranch, he said.
"You could definitely hear the shots being fired,'' he said.
Asked if there were a few gunshots, Dunbar said no, that there were "lots, lots and lots.''
During cross-examination, Mumford suggested to Dunbar that if someone wanted to do target practice, wouldn't it be good to find a spot "out in the middle of nowhere?''
Mumford likely didn't expect the answer he got.
"As a rancher and permittee holder, no place on the refuge is a good place for target practice,'' Dunbar responded.
Mumford then had Dunbar review a pamphlet from the refuge about hunting. Dunbar acknowledged that limited bird hunting is allowed on the refuge property.
During re-direct, Assistant U.S. Attorney Craig Gabriel asked Dunbar if the shooting that he had heard sounded like bird hunting.
"No, not at all,'' he said.
Prosecutors plan to introduce a Facebook video from cooperating government witness Jason Blomgren, which captures about eight or nine men lined up and firing assault rifles at the boat lunch. The video was posted to Blomgren's Facebook page on Jan. 25, according to court testimony. Blomgren already has pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge.
Mumford had argued that the video is "prejudicial'' and the only man identified in the group was co-defendant Ryan Payne, who has pleaded guilty to a federal conspiracy charge.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Knight successfully argued for the video to be admitted as evidence. "It's not simply the presence of the firearms. It's the use of firearms on the refuge, during the conspiracy. It could not be more relevant,'' Knight said.
The judge said she would allow the video to be played. She said she found it prejudicial, "but not unfairly prejudicial.''
In the first few days of the refuge occupation, Dunbar said he was on his 42 acres, caring for his heifers when he and his son looked through binoculars to see who was in the refuge watchtower. He testified that each time, he saw a man pointing a rifle.
"The guy pointed a gun towards us,'' Dunbar said.
There appeared to be a "sniper team'' in the refuge watchtower, he said, and other men patrolling the perimeter of the refuge.
Further testimony revealed that Dunbar and his 26-year-old son, Tucker Dunbar, each were paid $2,000 by the FBI for access to their properties. The son lives across the street from his father.
Mumford introduced the FBI receipt into evidence, showing that the senior Dunbar got $2,000 "for services rendered'' from Jan. 2 to Feb. 22. Andy Dunbar had previously testified that he didn't talk to the FBI until they called him on Jan. 21.
Asked if that amount is a large amount of money for him, Dunbar said it was a "significant'' amount. "I told them I didn't want it,'' Dunbar said.
"Did you give it back?'' Mumford asked.
"No,'' Dunbar said.
Dunbar even helped talk to several of the holdouts at the refuge on Feb. 5 about ranchers' need to access the refuge property for irrigation purposes.
-- Maxine Bernstein
mbernstein@oregonian.com
503-221-8212
@maxoregonian
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
September 19 Briana Bundy on Twister Radio with host Jim Lamley,
http://ice9.securenetsystems.net/med...ial-Update.m4a
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
Judge Brown threatens Ammon Bundy's attorney with contempt for delving into LaVoy Finicums murder
http://youtu.be/zJpmy0pq4Xk
https://youtu.be/zJpmy0pq4Xk
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
^ Mark McConell is a lying bastard working for the Jewish owned and controlled government working to destroy this country.
This is a good lesson for anyone who forms a group to promote the constitution or hold the government accountable for their actions that are bringing on the ((( new world order/communism.)))
I got fed up with the full video posted earlier of the lying son of bitches version of the events when they were stopped and Lavoy was shot. I had to turn it off.
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Tumbleweed
^ Mark McConell is a lying bastard working for the Jewish owned and controlled government working to destroy this country.
This is a good lesson for anyone who forms a group to promote the constitution or hold the government accountable for their actions that are bringing on the ((( new world order/communism.)))
I got fed up with the full video posted earlier of the lying son of bitches version of the events when they were stopped and Lavoy was shot. I had to turn it off.
Quoted for truth. I did not and will not watch those videos for the reasons you stated.
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
RangeFire! report for day 8. http://rangefire.us/2016/09/13/ongoi...ge-commentary/
DAY 8, Thursday, September 22, 2016
There were two major themes in the case today. One was presentation of recordings of the negotiation discussions between the remaining hold-out occupiers at the Refuge, and the FBI. Many of the conversations are between FBI negotiators and Defendant Jeff Banta, whose discussions with the the FBI were played for the the jury. The other theme was Judge Brown’s discussion with Attorney Marcus Mumford about his questions about the shooting death of LaVoy Finicum. We will talk more about that below.
Jeff Banta’s conversations with the FBI were very interesting and remarkably candid. They help show that there were multiple diverse ideas and agendas at the Refuge and among refuge occupiers. The idea that all refuge occupiers on the same sheet of music and part of one grand conspiracy to impede federal officers might be a stretch.
Banta told FBI negotiators that he had to gone to the Refuge to support Dwight and Steven Hammond. He wanted to have a chance to meet their family. He thought if they were going to prison, he might even see if he could work for them as a ranch hand and help them out. He thought Bundys might be able to help make an introduction with the Hammonds. When negotiators asked Banta what he wanted and what it would take to get the remaining occupiers to leave, he said “There’s only one way out, and that’s to free the Hammonds.”
Banta decribed some of the other occupiers who had been at the Refuge as disorganized, and compared them to cartoon characters. He said he wouldn’t put much stock in many of them. “Half of them have their screws loose, I’m telling ya,” he said.
One interesting piece of evidence presented was an an aerial surveillance video showing Banta riding an ATV to a remote part of the refuge to remove a surveillance camera that was mounted on a tripod. In light of this, it is interesting to compare this evidence with evidence that others had removed surveillance cameras and were charged with theft of government property, but Banta was not. On this point, it is also worth noting that although no evidence has been presented that Banta was ever armed or possessed any firearm(s) on the Refuge, he has been charged with possession firearms, and on September 12th Banta had to remind Judge Brown that he too is still charged with possession.
Now, let’s turn attention to the discussion about evidence regarding LaVoy Finicum’s shooting death. Judge Brown has allowed the prosecution to present a variety of evidence about the shooting, but has refused to allow Attorney Mumford to ask questions about it on cross examination. Ultimately, Judge Brown reminded Mumford, repeatedly, that she had already ruled that she was not going to allow such questioning, and warned him that she was going to hold him in contempt, and fine him $1000, if he continued to pursue that line of questioning. She asked him if he understood. He responded “I understand the words,” implying that he understood what she was saying, but was struggling to understand why she was saying it, and refusing to treat both sides the same when it came to this line of questioning.
In light of this subject matter, the timing of a new anonymous video that has just been posted regarding detailed forensic analysis of LaVoy Finicum’s shooting is more than interesting. Because this video is very thought-provokiing, we are going to share it here, as well as in a separate post.
http://youtu.be/pLIUDBrU9Cs
Recap of the Second Week of Trial — still to come
For contrasting perspectives and reporting, you can also follow Maxine Bernstein for OregonLive, and Conrad Wilson for Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB)
RANGE / RANGEFIRE! — Addressing Issues Facing the West / Spreading America’s Cowboy Spirit Beyond the Outback
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
These 2 videos are beginning to raise a lot of awareness around the internet. Read Gary Hunt's comment re Ryan Payne.
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Startling & Thought-Provoking New Analysis of LaVoy Finicum Shooting
September 23, 2016 - Government/Politics, Oregon Standoff - Tagged: Bundy, FBI, Finicum, Malheur, Oregon Standoff, Range, RANGEfire - 1 comment
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If you have been following our commentary and coverage of the Oregon Standoff Trial (or anyone else’s), you know that evidence regarding the shooting death of LaVoy Finicum has become a major point of contention in the case.
Supposedly there is an ongoing FBI investigation regarding a coverup by FBI HRT agents involved in that incident. In light of all this subject matter, new videos, anonymously produced, and recently posted on social media, are particularly thought provoking. In addition to the first general analysis video, we have now also added an additional video devoted to the purpose of the FBI foam bullet.
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One thought on “Startling & Thought-Provoking New Analysis of LaVoy Finicum Shooting”
- http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/74a6378...?s=59&d=mm&r=gGary HuntSeptember 23, 2016 at 10:52 am
This is an excellent presentation, with the exception of a blatant attempt to color Ryan Payne as an agent provocateur. He actually contradicts the assertion near the end, in the summation, by suggesting another motive for Ryan’s actions.
McConnell was released, but Payne was not. Payne has pled and is facing years in prison, which is not consistent, as with McConnell, of someone working for the government.
I have been in near constant touch with Ryan for the two years between events, and it was through him that I secured an invitation from Ammon Bundy to visit and have access at the Mulheur National Wildlife Refuge.
Prior to the occupation of the Refuge, I spent ten days with Ryan Payne working on a presentation on Committees of Safety. That presentation was given in Harney County and resulted in the creation of the Harney County Committee of Safety.
These are not the actions of an agent provocateur, they are the actions of a trained combat veteran who is dissatisfied with this government. Of the occupants of the two vehicles, Ryan is the only one with active combat experience. Why he got out of the truck will not be answered until such time as there would be no consequences as a result of that information.
If the creator of this presentation would remove his suggestive presumptions about Ryan Payne, I would give i my full support. If he continues to demonize Payne, based upon his speculation and presumption, I can only throw the baby out with the bathwater.
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
Quote:
Originally Posted by
monty
These 2 videos are beginning to raise a lot of awareness around the internet. Read Gary Hunt's comment re Ryan Payne.
- http://1.gravatar.com/avatar/74a6378...?s=59&d=mm&r=gGary HuntSeptember 23, 2016 at 10:52 am
This is an excellent presentation, with the exception of a blatant attempt to color Ryan Payne as an agent provocateur. He actually contradicts the assertion near the end, in the summation, by suggesting another motive for Ryan’s actions.
McConnell was released, but Payne was not. Payne has pled and is facing years in prison, which is not consistent, as with McConnell, of someone working for the government.
I have been in near constant touch with Ryan for the two years between events, and it was through him that I secured an invitation from Ammon Bundy to visit and have access at the Mulheur National Wildlife Refuge.
Prior to the occupation of the Refuge, I spent ten days with Ryan Payne working on a presentation on Committees of Safety. That presentation was given in Harney County and resulted in the creation of the Harney County Committee of Safety.
These are not the actions of an agent provocateur, they are the actions of a trained combat veteran who is dissatisfied with this government. Of the occupants of the two vehicles, Ryan is the only one with active combat experience. Why he got out of the truck will not be answered until such time as there would be no consequences as a result of that information.
If the creator of this presentation would remove his suggestive presumptions about Ryan Payne, I would give i my full support. If he continues to demonize Payne, based upon his speculation and presumption, I can only throw the baby out with the bathwater. .
I think the creator of this video analysis is justified in pointing out that Ryan Payne's behavior fits that of an agent provocateur and also an undercover informant for the government.
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Tumbleweed
I think the creator of this video analysis is justified in pointing out that Ryan Payne's behavior fits that of an agent provocateur and also an undercover informant for the government.
I had the same thought when I watched the video but decided not to make any comment not having any firsthand knowledge.
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
Shawna Cox has filed another motion re the court lacking jurisdiction over the land and buildings at the Malheur headquarters after Judge Brown denied the first motion. She addresses the fact the United States owns the horses and burros as was ruled on by the Supremes, but the ownership of the land is not addressed in the New Mexico case.
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
Second week analysis of the Malheur protest trial from Rangefire.us
http://rangefire.us/2016/09/13/ongoi...ge-commentary/
Recap of the Second Week of Trial
For our second week re-cap, we’re going to share Maxine Bernstein’s most recent article about Attorney Marcus Mumford’s trial tactics in defending Ammon Bundy:
According to legal “Experts,” inviting the warth of Judge Brown may be part of a calculated approach by Ammon Bundy’s lawyer
According to Maxine Bernstein’s article, “It would be nearly impossible for jurors not to notice U.S. District Judge Anna J. Brown’s growing exasperation with Ammon Bundy’s lawyer Marcus Mumford.
Since the Bundy trial began two weeks ago, the judge has repeatedly told Mumford to follow her rulings, reword his questions to government witnesses and occasionally to either stand up when he addresses her or sit down and stop challenging her directives.
Despite her earlier orders that defense lawyers weren’t to raise questions at trial about who owns the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, Mumford tried to solicit responses from the Harney County sheriff and refuge employees on the subject.
Despite the judge’s warnings that she didn’t want any defendant or defense lawyer to ask witnesses about the circumstances surrounding the fatal police shooting of occupation spokesman Robert “LaVoy” Finicum, Mumford passed off as a question a stinging remark that Finicum was shot three times in the back, asked another witness how close police were to him when he was shot and why the FBI wasn’t investigating the shooting.
Each time, prosecutors objected. Each time, the judge asked jurors to disregard Mumford’s bids to get around her edicts.
Out of earshot of the jury, Brown on Thursday had enough.
She threatened Mumford with contempt of court if he continued to delve into Finicum’s shooting. She told him she’d fine him $1,000 for each time he continued to violate her orders.
So how is this of any help to Bundy as he and six others fight federal conspiracy charges in the 41-day armed takeover of the bird sanctuary in eastern Oregon earlier this year?
Trial observers have wondered aloud whether Mumford is grasping at straws or if his approach is part of a calculated plan.
Legal experts, including a fellow defense lawyer in this case, suggest the latter.
“He knows what he’s doing. It’s intentional,” said Matthew Schindler, a lawyer helping co-defendant Kenneth Medenbach. “I don’t believe he makes choices without a strategic focus.”
Mumford may be trying to mimic Bundy’s narrative – that the federal government hasn’t listened to his concerns and that’s why he needed to make a stand.
The judge’s consistent slap down of Mumford’s questions could play into his defense of Bundy, legal scholars and other lawyers say.
He could be setting up an argument to jurors at the end of the trial: “See, they aren’t even letting you hear about the most critical evidence in the case. The government can do what it wants, and they’re not even giving us a fair fight,” said Portland criminal defense lawyer Kevin Sali.
Or perhaps Mumford’s marathon cross-examinations of witnesses – marked by seemingly random questions far beyond the scope of the charges and long pauses as he figures out his next query – might be designed to confuse jurors.
With the government’s case resting heavily on the defendants’ own recorded statements and social media postings, photos and videos before, during and after the refuge occupation, “maybe all that’s left is trying to cast doubt about the government’s actions and the propriety of the government’s actions,” said Tung Yin, a Lewis & Clark Law School professor.
But the tactics could backfire – attorneys can risk losing face in front of jurors when they invite constant scolding.
“The judge – especially someone like Judge Brown, who keeps tight control over her courtroom – will typically be perceived by jurors as a trusted authority figure,” Sali said. “Being repeatedly shot down by such a person can harm a lawyer’s credibility in jurors’ eyes.”
In a case with many defendants, it also could make the other lawyers look better, Yin said.
Over the past two weeks, Mumford asked a refuge employee how many birds he estimated lived outside the refuge compared to the number on the refuge. It was stricken as irrelevant. Another time, Mumford slipped in a reference to adverse possession, a principle his client contends he was exercising when he occupied the refuge in an effort to return the property to the people of Harney County. Never mind that the judge has made clear that the federal government owns the refuge and any references to adverse possession must be restricted to the defendants’ state of mind if they take the stand themselves.
A few times, the judge has chided Mumford in front of jurors for mischaracterizing direct testimony during cross-examination. After a few witnesses misinterpreted Mumford’s questions, the judge advised him when jurors were out of the courtroom to simplify them and avoid using complex clauses, something she said experienced lawyers should know.
“On the one hand, a jury who sees an attorney repeatedly asking improper questions and getting shot down by the judge might think that attorney is not very competent, and be biased against the defendant,” said Andrew Kim, a Concordia University School of Law professor. “On the other hand, if the other side, the prosecution, is continually forced to object to questions that sound reasonable to the jury, it could give the impression that they have something to hide, which might work in the defendant’s favor.”
Bundy, considered the leader of the occupation, his older brother, Ryan, and the other five defendants each face a charge of conspiring to impede federal employees from working at the refuge through intimidation, threats or force. Eleven other defendants have pleaded guilty to the charge. Seven others are set for trial in February.
Ryan Bundy, who is representing himself and has no legal education, usually follows Mumford in cross-examining government witnesses. In contrast, his questions, for the most part, have been focused and direct, and on several occasions, the judge has overruled government objections to his questions. Ryan Bundy also has an experienced standby counsel and paralegal assisting him.
Schindler, who typically asks witnesses a few pointed questions and moves on, said he’s proud of Mumford.
“I’ve never seen anybody get Judge Brown so fired up,” Schindler said. “We’re not there to be friends with judges. Justice is not done by sitting down and shutting up.”
Yin said Bundy’s lawyer also may be trying to preserve a record for an appeal if his client is convicted: the court’s restrictions on his ability to question witnesses about Finicum’s shooting, for example.
The judge, though, also is likely wary of providing any fodder for Mumford to appeal.
“A trial judge has to be careful in a criminal trial not to clamp down on the defense,” he said. “It sounds like she might have tolerated more than she would have with Mumford already than she might have, say, with prosecutors or if this were a civil case.”
As for Mumford, this is par for the course for the pugilistic attorney.
While many lawyers in Brown’s courtroom Thursday said they had never witnessed a judge threaten an attorney with contempt before, it’s the second time this year for Mumford.
In February, a federal judge in Utah did the same during a criminal trial for the same type of offense – leading a witness during cross-examination into a forbidden area of inquiry. In that case, Mumford’s client, accountant Scott Leavitt, was acquitted of all 86 charges in an alleged influence-peddling scandal that included allegations of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering.
Mumford, who grew up on an Idaho dairy farm, told students at his alma mater, Idaho State University, in 2010 that he had to be “audacious enough” to enter the field of law with a significant stuttering condition he’s struggled with since age 4 because “the world wasn’t prepared for a stuttering lawyer.”
Mumford went on to graduate from Brigham Young University’s law school. He clerked for a federal appellate judge and worked eight years for one of the country’s biggest law firms, Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, before returning to Utah to open his own practice.
Mumford told The Oregonian/OregonLive this week that he has tremendous respect for Judge Brown and doesn’t anticipate he’ll be found in contempt of her rulings. Yet he continued to defend his approach in court.
“My client has a right to confront the witnesses who are testifying against him,” he said. “I must zealously represent his interests. I have an obligation to ask all the relevant questions.”
He said he’s striving to show a link between what he and Ammon Bundy perceive as the government’s “misconduct” in the shooting of Finicum and what they contend is the government’s misleading view and mishandling of the refuge occupation.
“It’s the same governmental mistakes in how they reacted to the occupation itself,” Mumford said. “They didn’t engage in civil debate but engaged in wrongdoing and made up evidence that my client violated federal law.”
“It’s not easy to tell the federal government it’s wrong,” Mumford said.
— Maxine Bernstein
Note: It should be noted that despite his speech impediment and sometimes unorthodox approach, Attorney Marcus Mumford has a number of victories in high profile federal prosecutions in the state of Utah, including a lengthy white-collar conspiracy case earlier this year, in which his client was acquitted of 86 counts of alleded federal violations. Mumford is working with Attorney Morgan Philpot who has less litigation experience, but has political experience and is a former Utah state legislator and candidate for governor. They are also working with Rick Koerber, another of Mumford’s former high-profile clients, who is doing much of the research and writing of motions in the case.
For contrasting perspectives and reporting, you can also follow Maxine Bernstein for OregonLive, and Conrad Wilson for Oregon Public Broadcasting (OPB)
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
Quote:
Originally Posted by
monty
62 Stautes Chapter 645 Section 7(3)
"Any lands reserved or acquired for THE USE OF THE UNITED STATES"
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Re: 150 Militia Take Over Makhuer National Wildlife Preserve Headquarters
From the left leaning Lets Talk Nevada
http://letstalknevada.com/bundy-oreg...idence-week-3/
Bundy Oregon Trial Prosecution Evidence, Week 3
Posted on September 23, 2016 by Bill Hurd
The picture is becoming visible of evidence the prosecutors are presenting in the trial in Oregon of
seven defendants in the Malheur Standoff case.
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Prosecutors are using video evidence recorded for The Pete Santilli Show. See the September 20 article by Karina Brown in Willamette Week entitled “Deborah Jordan Caught the Malheur Takeover on Camera. Now Her Footage is At the Center of the Bundy Trial” Here.
http://www.wweek.com/news/2016/09/21...e-bundy-trial/
Jordan played a major role in producing Santilli’s show, and he is her boyfriend. She doesn’t seem concerned that video from the show is being used as evidence. That might partially be because Santilli is no longer a defendant in the case. She says the FBI went after Pete because they don’t like him, not for breaking the law. We’ll see if the video evidence is critical in the case, and we note that Santilli is facing serious charges in Nevada for the Bunkerville standoff.
On Wednesday, September 21, there was testimony by a State Trooper that an informant alerted authorities about the trip by occupiers that resulted in the shooting death of LaVoy Finicum and the arrest of Ammon Bundy, Ryan Bundy and others. The informant was Ammon Bundy’s driver, Mark McConnell. McConnell was previously identified as a leader in the III% patriot group. (I wonder how he became an informant.) See the OPD article by Conrad Wilson, Bryan Vance and Bradley Parks “Informant Tipped Off OSP On Day Of Arrests Of Several Malheur Occupation Leaders”. http://www.opb.org/news/series/burns...hawna-cox-fbi/
There also was testimong about the shooting and the weapons that were found.
Thursday, September 22, saw interesting testimony by rancher Andy Dunbar, and a warning by Judge Anna Brown that could lead to contempt charges against Ammon Bundy’s attorney, Marcus Mumford, and others. These were reported by Conrad Wilson, Bryan Vance and Bradley Parks in the OPD article “Outside Looking In: Rancher Describes His View Of The Malheur Occupation”. http://www.opb.org/news/series/burns...RGUAdE.twitter
Dunbar’s ranch is immediately adjacent to the Malheur Refuge. He had great views of the observation tower. He testified about seeing men with long guns appearing to secure a perimeter. He said he saw, through binoculars, a person in the watch tower pointing a gun in his direction. He described the stressful situation in January, and that he still had to tend his cattle during the calving season. He also said he heard gunfire on a number of days.
The threat of contempt charges came when Attorney Mumford violated Judge Brown’s orders restricting how the shooting of LaVoy Finicum may be addressed in the presence of the jury. The attorneys and prosecutors may not mention more than that the shooting occurred and the date, under threat of a $1000 fine per incident.
Also on Thursday, Maxine Bernstein @maxoregonian wrote a series of tweets on telephone calls in the last days of the occupation between an FBI negotiator and now-defendants Jeff Banta and David Fry. These occurred when the FBI was seeking surrender of the last remaining occupiers. (Search on twitter for @maxoregonian.) Bernstein also reports that the trial will resume on Monday, September 26, with testimony by 22 FBI agents about evidence recovered at the refuge. Firearm evidence will be presented on Tuesday, and the defense was told to be ready to start their case on Wednesday.
It looks like the trial is moving right along, but I won’t be surprised by any tactics the defense attorneys use to cause doubt in the minds of the jurors. It is their duty to present the best possible defense.
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