Seditionists and sagebrush moochers Ammon and Ryan Bundy and their five co- defendant militia nuts were (shockingly) acquitted of multiple charges related to their armed take-over of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters earlier this year. The jury's verdict was announced yesterday in Federal court in Portland, Oregon. The Bundys still face charges in Nevada along with their father Cliven "Hoof" Bundy over a standoff at the Bundy ranch in 2014 over unpaid grazing fees.
Karoli at Crooks & Liars tells us the acquittal might have been the result of prosecutorial overreach:
Apparently the reason for the acquittal relates to the structure of the charges. Instead of going for the straightforward charge of possessing firearms on federal property, prosecutors went for intent to commit a crime, and didn't prove it.In any event, we share the sentiments of Jennifer Rokala, executive director of the Center for Western Priorities, on the impact of the verdicts:
"We are deeply disappointed in today's verdict, which puts our park rangers and scientists at further risk just for doing their jobs. The outcome of today's trial will undoubtedly embolden extremist groups,'' Rokala said. " It's imperative that local, state, and federal law enforcement ensure the safety of our land managers.''The timing of this verdict is also dangerous to all of us. It's not a stretch to say that future acts against the government by Bundy- style armed nitwits will be the direct outgrowth of this verdict. With violent, eliminationist talk (see post below) already a fixture of the shampaign of neo- fascist loon Donald "Rump" Trump and his alt-right supporters, this will be interpreted as a green light to act out if and when Rump goes down the crapper on November 8.
Meanwhile, this sums up the message being sent, once again:
White privilege, 2016:— David Harris-Gershon (@David_EHG) October 28, 2016
Heavily armed militants just acquitted in #oregonstandoff as unarmed #NoDAPL protestors are attacked by riot police. pic.twitter.com/ZdVyEgUXTq
Stay tuned for more reactions.
(Photo: Such nice people; such nice Constitutional experts; such nice mugshots)
