Two sons of Nevada cattleman Cliven Bundy refused to attend, and several co-defendants shouted an oath of defiance at the end of a Friday court appearance for 17 men accused of conspiring and taking up arms against federal agents near the Bundy ranch in Nevada in April 2014.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Peggy Leen decided not to order marshals to bring Ammon and Ryan Bundy to court by force, so the two Bundy sons remained in a nearby holding cell. Marshals were instructed to provide a speaker so they could hear audio of the court proceedings.
Another defendant, Peter Santilli, blurted out that the Bundy brothers didn't want to be shackled. Leen admonished Santilli that he didn't get to speak on their behalf.
So began a contentious three-hour hearing during which the judge didn't make immediate rulings on a range of arguments, including the government's request to have three trials and defendants' requests to be tried together or in groups of their choosing.
Kind of hard to blame the Bundys.
After all they were already found not guilty of conspiring against the government, so they probably figure they will soon be walking out of prison scot-free.
Besides let's face it once Donald Trump is sworn in he will probably not only give them amnesty, but he will probably give them both cabinet positions.
If I had a sledge hammer, I would finish off what a pickup truck started with Ryan Bundy's face.
ReplyDeleteO/T but just woke up to learn that GOP scum-sucker Kennedy beat out Foster Campbell here in the Louisiana senate race. I'm just numb at this point. At least I got my democratic parents to get and out vote yesterday; my dad and I even went together, it was nice. Still, once again, my fellow citizens chose derp over decency. I'm so goddamn embarrassed.
ReplyDeleteWell, I have a sledge hammer, you can hammer in the morning, you can hammer in the evening....
ReplyDeleteI think we're going to need a bigger hammer.
I think we will regularly see Trump use his executive powers to commute sentences and grant clemency to those on the far right. And don't expect the justice department under Sessions to prosecute alt-right members no matter what their crimes. As far as the Bundy group goes, expect the justice department to drop all charges soon after January 20, 2017.
ReplyDeleteI realize that it is catchily alliterative, but I disagree with referring to the Bundys as "boys." It makes it seem as though their seditious activities are nothing more than hijinks and comedic pratfalls and screw ups, good for a laugh but of no real consequence.
ReplyDeleteThese people are part of the sovereign citizen movement, which with lawless trump in office represents a real danger to this country.
They are grown men, vicious, stupid, ignorant, angry armed men. Not boys.
It would not surprise me in the least to see Donald Trump pardon these guys.
ReplyDeleteIf these white boys were black, they'd already be shot dead by the authorities. America is great when you're white.
ReplyDeleteAs a Nevadan, I agree with all the statements made above. The Bundys need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Nevada courts have ruled against Cliven numerous times and he still thinks he can do exactly as he pleases. His sons are just as guilty. For a family who declares they have no use for the federal government, did you know Ammon has a $550,000 loan for his business from the Small Business Administration?
ReplyDeleteNice to be "native"** white person to the west, you'll get off easy. Bad to be a native American (as in North Dakota whose been there for a long time) who'll get water hosed in freezing weather for fighting for their own freedom.
ReplyDelete**"native" white person - going back a 150-175 years at best. Less so in many cases. Yet they claim sovereignty as "special" 'Murikans because, well, just because they're white and go back many (pre-Civil War at best) to several (in most cases) to a few (in some cases) generations in the west.
Well, all they have to do is drag their feet until after January 20 and everything is good.
ReplyDeleteIn fact, our new Sec. of the Interior might just GIFT them of all that Federal land they want as well as forgive those millions in fees and penalties they owe.
Some adults may want to take a look at who is making decisions up yonder. Allowing lawless, defiant and outrageous destruction of public land and artifacts is a federal crime. Public servants must uphold the law and enforce. These people have had several opportunities. And continue to break laws.
ReplyDelete