Armed Feds Prepare For Showdown With Nevada Cattle Rancher

[monty]

Review Journal - Bunkerville Standoff Captures Agent Conversations

http://www.reviewjournal.com/news/bu...-conversations


Bunkerville standoff video captures agent conversations

Prosecutors trying the case against six of rancher Cliven Bundy’s supporters played hours of video footage this week that gave the public a peek into the minds of federal law enforcement officers as the 2014 confrontation with armed protesters unfolded in Bunkerville.

When Bureau of Land Management Agent Mark Brunk testified early in the week, prosecutors played dash cam footage that recorded him uttering an expletive, followed by, “You come find me and you’re gonna have hell to pay.”


Another agent laughed, and replied, “Pretty much a shoot first, ask questions later kind of thing.”
The statements were made after a crowd of hundreds of cowboys and supporters arrived at Toquop Wash, a sandy ditch that served as the headquarters for the court-ordered cattle roundup that sparked the protests. The protesters had traveled 5 miles, by horse and by car, from a morning rally where Bundy — upon learning the government was ceasing its operation — ordered supporters to go get his cows.


The conversations among law enforcement grew more serious as officers scanned the crowd for guns, and the footage captured their frantic conversations. First they didn’t notice any long guns. Then they saw two. Then at least five. Then 10.


“If we get any more guns, we’re gonna be outgunned,” a law enforcement officer remarked at one point.


The footage captured expressions of fear and humor, and some of the government’s witnesses testified that their jokes and laughter reflected coping mechanisms, or expressions of nervous energy. Prosecutors have asked nearly every law enforcement witness to rank their fear on a scale of 1 to 10. None of them has rated it below a 5, and one officer gave it a 10.


Defense lawyers, meanwhile, highlighted portions of the video that recorded agents mocking protesters. The line of questioning reflected an attempt to prove that the government witnesses’ fear is overstated.


“There’s no gun there … He’s just holding his back, he’s standing like a sissy,” one agent said of a protester as authorities assessed the scene about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas.


As one woman in the crowd screamed angrily, two law enforcement officers chuckled.
“She must not be married,” one said.


The videos captured protesters yelling things like, “Get the hell out of here.” Throughout the footage, a BLM agent makes the same statement repeatedly over a megaphone: “This area is closed for the enforcement of a United States District Court order. Please leave the area.”


United States Park Police Officer Brandon Novotny testified Thursday that law enforcement officials attended a briefing the day before the standoff. He said officials were alerted to numerous people on “domestic terrorist watch lists in and among the protesters at the Bundy campground.”


Novotny was photographed in a military-style “stacking formation” with other federal agents, armed and wearing SWAT gear.


“I took a moment to think about my family,” he said, his voice cracking. “I made my peace with God … I expected to die that day.”


The six men standing trial are charged as “gunmen,” accused of conspiring with Bundy to thwart the government’s efforts to carry out a court order. Prosecutors describe them as the least culpable of the 17 people they eventually plan to try in the case.


Contact Jenny Wilson at jenwilson@reviewjournal.com or 702-384-8710. Follow @jennydwilson on Twitter.

[Dachsie]

I have read the referenced article and this posting and I fail to comprehend exactly how the

"BUNDY RANCH STANDOFF TRIALSBLM misconduct probe may derail Bundy ranch standoff trial"

Maybe that was just a click bait title for that article that did not in any way explain how the trial may be derailed by what the title claimed would be the reason for the derailing.

On the surface it sounds like this order to stand down could be a real ray of hope but frustratingly then fails to clearly explain it.

[monty]

I think this was because when they Bundy Ranch supporters first heard that the governments star witness, Daniel P. Love, was being investigated for ethics and misconduct violations these supporters had visions of his credibility and testimony being destroyed. Since he was the man in charge of the operations at Bundy Ranch these folks assumed by destroying his credibility it would derail the prosecutions case. Basically wishful thinking on the part of some supporters.

The government has chosen not to call him to as a witness.

Dan Love may have chosen to disobey the stand down order. I don't know what transpired there. I speculate if the defense might make a big impact on the jury by emphasising the fact the BLM did not stand down when ordered.

My judgement is biased, plus I have information the jury does not have, but if I were deciding this case I would say the government has no case. All the evidence is against them.

[monty]

I have read the referenced article and this posting and I fail to comprehend exactly how the

"BUNDY RANCH STANDOFF TRIALSBLM misconduct probe may derail Bundy ranch standoff trial"

Maybe that was just a click bait title for that article that did not in any way explain how the trial may be derailed by what the title claimed would be the reason for the derailing.

On the surface it sounds like this order to stand down could be a real ray of hope but frustratingly then fails to clearly explain it.

These three articles may help why some felt Dan Love being outed could have derailed the trial:

http://thepetesantillishow.com/blm-a...of-misconduct/

http://thepetesantillishow.com/did-p...en-bundy-case/

http://thepetesantillishow.com/first...ake-the-stand/

Dan Love also had previous complaints from Utah sheriffs, county commissioners and Senator Orin Hatch

[Dachsie]

I wonder if the defense attorneys will indeed make a big deal out of that stand down order being a fact and that it was in fact ignored? I understand Mr. Bundy, the father, is defending himself. It does look like this stand down order has just come to light and it could potentially be a wonderful gift from above to end these unjust charges and trials.

[monty]

This San Juan County Utah Dan Love newspaper article was posted on facebook. It is dated March 1

https://m.facebook.com/groups/824803...27473277364654

https://s19.postimg.org/yzcs8k9ib/IMG_1523.png

[monty]

Anthony Dephue who writes BundyRanchStandoff.info wrote a tribute to the four Idaho defendants currently on trial

https://www.facebook.com/adephue/pos...54797547455081

https://scontent.fbog2-2.fna.fbcdn.n...da&oe=592DA67E


Anthony Thomas Dephue

Yesterday at 4:09pm ·

For those of us in Idaho, four of our own were taken one year ago today. Selectively prosecuted, they went to prison facing an indictment good for 100+ years minimum if convicted on all counts. Over 100 years, potentially, for protesting and posturing defensively in the face of a life and liberty robbing collective of agencies operating under the tenets of unbridled tyranny. They stood, they were taken; and one year later they still stand... on the truth of what they know happened that day. If it matters how you stand, their stand is the object of our pride as Idahoans.

We gave tirelessly and selflessly to an organization that we believed had fundamentally shifted its core purpose to assist these men. When that ended in frustration; we acted quickly to put it down, kick it aside, and press on to accomplish what we promised to do.

This past week, witness after witness gave sworn testimony in aid of the Government's embellished narrative of what transpired in the Toquop Wash. Witness after witness... trampling under foot the sacredness of the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. These witnesses testify as truth a narrative that they could have only perceived because of media coverage after the event. None of their reports written shortly after the event accurately depict what they are testifying to. There is no honor for these individuals; they aid and abbet a tyrant in its witch hunt.

When the Judiciary can no longer be trusted to provide the neutral place it is supposed to for the fair and equitable metering of prudent justice, the people find themselves inexorably isolated to the realm where absolute despotism must (eventually) be addressed. Our brothers press on, advancing under a rule of law that leans in favor of a Government hell-bent on making an example of anyone who would stand up to its nefarious agendas for the vast areas of the west.

They stand tall, and they stand with honor, and they look their lying accusers right in the eye. Their turn will soon come and the truth will sound to mercilessly expose the Government's corruption.

With an outcome merely weeks away, all we can do is stand with them and make sure that no one ever forgets Saturday, April 12th 2014... that no one forgets them... that we always remember and honor how they stood.
Eric, Todd, Steve, & Scott... Idaho couldn't be more proud.


24 Likes 9 Comments 25 Shares

[monty]

Deborah Jordan on the Pete Santilli Show with an important update the Nevada Trial



https://youtu.be/bj3Jcnfx9Xs

click through to youtube to raise the viewer count

[monty]

Andrea Olson-Parker with the March 6 mid-day Bundy Ranch Trial update



https://youtu.be/ZDVyvEeRip0

[monty]

Bundy Ranch ~ Court testimony showed confusion, contradictions in command during Bundy standoff
http://www.guns.com/2017/03/06/court...undy-standoff/

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Court testimony showed confusion, contradictions in command during Bundy standoff

3/06/17| by Jennifer Cruz

http://14544-presscdn-0-64.pagely.ne...lle-nevada.jpg

Supporters — many of which armed — of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy confronting officers with the Bureau of Land Management in April 2014. (Photo: AP)

Testimony by federal officials in court Thursday revealed contradictions and confusion with the chain of command as the 2014 standoff with rancher Cliven Bundy and his supporters came to an end.

After nearly a week, the standoff came to a climactic end on April 12, 2014, after authorities stayed through the night despite being told by the federal agent in charge the day before to cease all operations and leave, The Arizona Republic reported.

About 1,000 people, many of whom were armed, came to the area in support of Bundy, who was involved in a decades-long battle over grazing rights with the Bureau of Land Management. Federal authorities had moved in to seize Bundy’s cattle as payment for the more than $1 million in grazing fees they say he owed.

Authorities already began rounding up Bundy’s cattle when, according to BLM director Neil Kornze, there became serious concerns over the safety of officials as well as the public, causing the federal government to make a decision to back down.

Dan Love, BLM special agent in charge of operations, announced to officials at the site on April 11, 2014, that they were to stop seizing Bundy’s cattle, pack up, and leave, and a news release was set to be sent out the following day announcing the decision. Despite this, according to court testimony, law enforcement officials were commanded by their own supervisors to move forward and engage with the protesters using non-lethal means.

“We were still under threat,” U.S. Parks Police Officer Tara McBride said in court last week, adding it was her understanding that they were to stop gathering the cattle but remain at the standoff “to provide security for the (incident command post)” because her supervisors anticipated a bloody battle with the protesters.

“We had intelligence from the FBI that individuals on a domestic terrorist watch list had arrived and were camped out at the Bundy compound,” said U.S. Park Police Officer Brandon Novotny. “We received intelligence there was going to be an attack.”

Nonetheless, McBride and her team expressed concern over engaging the protesters. More specifically, they feared the non-lethal pepper rounds would be mistaken for live rounds, causing armed protesters to return fire.
“I was scared that as leader of my team, I was not going to get my people out. I thought I was going to see one of my friends’ heads explode,” McBride said.

In fact, McBride said as her team positioned themselves as directed, they discussed the risks amongst themselves. Additionally, McBride said, her team twice requested permission from her supervisor to fall back, but both times the requests were denied.

Defense attorney Richard Tanasi said the multiple commands were not only confusing but contradictory and could have contributed to a violent escalation between federal officials and protesters. Tanasi also added the situation could have more quickly been defused had officials simply followed the original commands to cease operations.

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