Tag: domestic terrorists

Members of the “Bundy Militia,” domestic terrorists who took over a federal wildlife sanctuary last month, have been indicted by a federal grand jury for preventing federal employees from doing their jobs.

From NBC News:

The armed occupation, which began over a month ago at the Malheur National Wildlife Center, lost its momentum last week after its leaders, brothers Ammon and Ryan Bundy, were arrested during a traffic stop. Another occupier, Robert LaVoy Finicum, was fatally shot by authorities in the same incident.

A total of 11 people, including the Bundy brothers, were arrested, although two members of the group — including the only female — were later released from jail, The Associated Press reported.

Federal prosecutor Geoff Barrow told the AP on Wednesday that the indictment involves the people arrested so far “and others,” perhaps a reference to the four people who have stayed put at the federal refuge — despite Ammon Bundy’s calls for them to leave.

The indictment, which was unsealed Thursday and obtained by NBC News, alleges that the defendants conspired together since last October to prevent refuge employees from doing their work at the wildlife sanctuary “by force, intimidation, and threats.”

The maximum penalty is six years in prison.

The Bundy brothers — sons of infamous Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy — remain jailed. The occupiers took over the refuge as part of a larger demand that the federal government turn public lands over to local control.

A small group of the militants continue to occupy the wildlife refuge.

After three weeks of occupation of a federal wildlife refuge in Oregon, FBI and Oregon State police have arrested 8 members of the domestic terrorist group known as the “Bundy militia.”

During the arrest, one of the right-wing extremists was shot and killed

From USA Today:

Arizona resident Robert “LaVoy” Finicum, 56, of Cane Beds, Ariz., was shot and killed during the encounter. The FBI did not release his name, but his death was reported by The Oregonian and NBC News.

NBC News correspondent Pete Williams, quoting unidentified sources, says Finicum was shot after stepping from a vehicle and brandishing a weapon.

The standoff, however, is not over, as five or six protesters remain at the compound..

One of them, Jason Patrick, said he has been speaking with an FBI negotiator who told him “they just want to get everybody off the refuge.”

Those arrested include the Bundy brothers, Ryan 43, of Bunkerville, Nev., and Ammon, 40, of Emmett, Idaho, along with Brian Cavalier, 44, of Bunkerville; Shawna Cox, 59, of Kanab, Utah; and Ryan Waylen Payne, 32, of Anaconda, Mont. Also arrested, at separate locations in Burns, Ore., near the refuge, were Pete Santilli, host of a neoconservative online radio, and Joseph Donald O’Shaughnessy, 45, of Cottonwood, Ariz.

An eighth person, Jon Eric Ritzheimer, 32, was arrested after turning himself into police in Peoria, Ariz.

Those arrested were charged with a federal felony count of conspiracy to impede officers of the United States from discharging their official duties through the use of force, intimidation or threats.

Many residents of Harney County, where the refuge is located, have been among those demanding Bundy leave. Many sympathize with his criticism of federal land management policies of public lands but opposed the refuge takeover. They feared violence could erupt.

“I am pleased that the FBI has listened to the concerns of the local community and responded to the illegal activity occurring in Harney County by outside extremists,” Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley said in a statement. “I hope that the remaining individuals occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge will peacefully surrender.”

The nutjobs who are supporting this terrorist act will scream about Finicum’s death. It’s worth noting, however, those are probably the same people who would blame a black man (or child) for being shot by police if THEY were to brandish a gun in the direction of a police officer.

UPDATE: Anti-Muslim activist and Oregon militia member Jon Ritzheimer has also been arrested after turning himself in to police in Arizona. Ritzheimer had fled the Oregon wildlife refuge some time before the arrests of his fellow domestic terrorists.