Cliven Bundy charged with conspiracy, assault, obstruction
Cliven Bundy, the Nevada rancher who led a standoff against federal agencies in 2014 over grazing fees, has been charged with five federal offenses related to the incident.
Bundy was arrested the evening of Feb. 10 at the Portland International Airport, after reportedly arriving in Oregon in the hopes of traveling to Burns, near the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The charges, made by the U.S. attorney in Las Vegas, are one count each of conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, assault on a federal law enforcement officer, use and carry of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence, obstruction of the administration of justice, interference with commerce by extortion and aiding and abetting.
Bundy appeared in federal court Thursday, shackled at the ankles and wearing a blue inmate smock. Uniformed and plain clothes federal agents, some with dogs, patrolled the courthouse grounds during the hearing.
Bundy quietly reviewed the charging documents with his court appointed public defender for about half an hour before the hearing began. Once it did, the public defender requested a seized carry-on bag containing Bundy's blood pressure medication be returned. The generic medication at the jail was not sufficient, the attorney said.
"He should be handled in the normal course," Judge Janice M. Stewart said in denial of the request.
Bundy also requested a court appointed attorney, to which Stewart said he will need to submit a financial affidavit proving he cannot afford an attorney.
Stewart set his bail hearing for Feb. 16 and a preliminary hearing for Feb. 19. Those dates are subject to change if an indictment is released.
Stewart told Bundy that any public statements he makes can be used against him. When she asked if he understood his rights, Bundy said "Yes," the only time he spoke during the hearing.
"I urge you not to comment with anyone about these charges except your attorney," Stewart said to Bundy.
According to charging documents, Bundy’s alleged crimes occurred in 2014 when he organized an armed standoff against federal authorities who were ordered to impound his cattle. The federal government says Bundy has trespassed his cattle on federal public lands since 1993 and refused to pay related fines, which are reportedly more than $1 million.
Court documents say that when federal authorities arrived to impound Bundy’s more than 400 head of cattle, Bundy and others used weapons to “forcibly assault” and interfere with the execution of court orders.
Joel Wills, the FBI special agent assigned to investigating Bundy’s case, wrote in court documents that Bundy and others “led a massive armed assault against federal law enforcement officers” when they tried to impound his cattle.
The statement says when officers arrived at the Bundy Ranch, armed protesters had taken sniper positions on high ground, pointing their weapons at officers. Hundreds of protestors also approached the officers, who were outnumbered four to one. Federal officers retreated.
Bundy’s sons, Ammon and Ryan, were leaders of the armed occupation at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns. The brothers, along with six others, were arrested last month in Eastern Oregon during a traffic stop after leaving the refuge. During the traffic stop, occupier Robert “LaVoy” Finicum was shot and killed by police. Since then, at least a dozen more occupiers have been arrested around the West. The standoff drew to a close Feb. 11 as the final four occupiers surrendered at the refuge to federal agents.
FBI arrests Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy in Portland
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