Cliven Bundy v. USDC-NVL

Filing

FILED OPINION (WILLIAM A. FLETCHER, RONALD M. GOULD and JAY S. BYBEE) DENIED. Judge: RMG Dissenting, Judge: JSB Authoring. FILED AND ENTERED JUDGMENT. [10178079]

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 1 of 33
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Bundy standoff
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36°43 00 N 114°14 19 W

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For the 2016 standoff in Harney County, Oregon, see Occupation of the Malheur National

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Wildlife Refuge.

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The Bundy standoff was an armed

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enforcement that developed from a 20-year

Bundy standoff

confrontation between protesters and law
Date

Legal process: 1993 – present
Confrontation: April 5, 2014 – May 2014

legal dispute between the United States

Interaction

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and

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cattle rancher Cliven Bundy, over unpaid

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grazing fees on federally owned land in

Recent changes

Location Bunkerville , Clark County , Nevada , United
States

southeastern Nevada.

Contact page

36°43 00 N 114°14 19 W
Causes

The ongoing dispute started in 1993, when, in

Protest over Bureau of Land Management
roundup of trespass cattle pursuant to court
order 16

Permanent link

, 20
er 31
ctob Unpaid cattle grazing fees on public
on O
domain lands
ived
arc
Bundy declined to renew his permit for2cattle h
75
Goals
6-72
BLM seeks to round up and remove from
grazing on BLM-administeredNo. 1 near
L, lands
-NV
the range trespass cattle owned by Bundy
C
US According to the BLM,
Bunkerville, Nevada. D
y v.
nd
ATF to oversee operations
in Bu
Bundydcontinued to graze his cattle on public
cite
Cliven Bundy seeks to prevent roundup of

Page information

lands without a permit. In 1998, Bundy was

Wikidata item

prohibited by the United States District Court

Cite this page

for the District of Nevada from grazing his

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protest against changes to grazing rules,

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Related changes
Upload file
Special pages

cattle and have his claim of grazing rights
recognized
Result

cattle on an area of land later called the

The BLM suspends the roundup of
trespassing cattle

Create a book

Bunkerville Allotment. In July 2013, the BLM

Protesters disperse

Download as PDF

complaint was supplemented when federal

Incident defused

Printable version

judge Lloyd D. George ordered that Bundy

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refrain from trespassing on federally

Languages
Français

administered land in the Gold Butte area of
Edit links

Clark County.
On March 27, 2014, 145,604 acres of federal
land in Clark County were temporarily closed
for the "capture, impound, and removal of
trespass cattle". BLM officials and law
enforcement rangers began a roundup of
such livestock on April 5, and an arrest was
made the next day. On April 12, 2014, a
group of protesters, some of them armed,

Cliven Bundy and 18 others indicted for
federal felonies
Parties to the civil conflict
United States
Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco,
Firearms and
Explosives (ATF)
Bureau of
Land Management
(BLM)
Federal Bureau
of Investigation
(FBI)
Governor of

3 Percenters
Constitutional
Sheriffs and Peace
Officers Association
(CSPOA)
Oath Keepers
Praetorian Guard
White Mountain
Militia
Various unarmed
protesters

[1]

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 2 of 33
advanced on what the BLM described as a
"cattle gather." Sheriff Doug Gillespie
negotiated with Bundy and newly confirmed
BLM director Neil Kornze, who elected to
release the cattle and de-escalate the
situation. As of the end of 2015, Cliven Bundy
continued to graze his cattle on Federal land
and had not paid the fees.

Nevada
Lieutenant
Governor of Nevada
Las Vegas
Metropolitan Police
Department
(LVMPD)
Nevada Highway
Patrol (NHP)

Bundy was at first praised by Republican
politicians and conservative personalities.
Later, after Bundy suggested that "the Negro"
would have been better off to be a slave than
to be a recipient of government subsidies, he
was widely condemned, and was repudiated
by conservative politicians and talk-show
hosts who had previously supported him.
Many condemned his remarks as racist.
On February 10, 2016, Cliven Bundy traveled
to Portland, Oregon, in response to federal
law enforcement moving to end a standoff led
by his sons Ammon and Ryan at the Malheur

Lead figures
Brian Sandoval
(Governor)

Chuck Baldwin

Brian Krolicki (former
Lieutenant Governor)

Cliven Bundy

Mark Hutchison (current
Lieutenant Governor and

Ryan Bundy

former state senator)

Blaine Cooper

Douglas C. Gillespie
(former Clark County
Sheriff)

Richard Mack

Joseph Lombardo
(former Clark County
Under Sheriff and16
0
31, 2
current er
ctob Clark County

Stewart Rhodes

Ammon Bundy

on O
ived Sheriff)
National Wildlife Refuge. He was arrested arch
at
275
Kevin C. McMahill
6-72
N incarcerated
the airport by the FBI, andVwas o. 1
L,
(current Clark County
DC-N
at the Multnomah County Jail. He was
. US
Under Sheriff)
yv
Bund
ed in 16 federal felonies on February
indicted for
cit

Cliven Lance Bundy
Brian Cavalier

Gordon Martines
Ryan Payne
Jon Ritzheimer
Pete Santilli
David Lory
VanDerBeek
Neil Wampler

17, along with Ammon and Ryan Bundy,
militia leader Ryan Payne and broadcaster
Peter Santilli, who were already under arrest
for their role in the Malheur standoff. Another
14 individuals were charged on March 3,
2016. Their trials are scheduled for 2017.
Contents [hide]
1 Background
2 United States v. Bundy
3 Court judgments against Bundy's claims
4 Bureau of Land Management actions
5 Confrontations and protests in April 2014
6 Events following April 2014 cattle gather
7 Aftermath
8 Criminal charges against standoff
participants
9 See also
10 Notes

Approximate location of Bunkerville
Show map of Nevada
Show map of the US
Show all

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 3 of 33
11 References
12 External links

Background

[edit]

See also: Cliven Bundy

History

[edit]

The land to which Cliven Bundy claims ancestral rights
was originally inhabited by the Moapa Paiute people.[2]
In 1848, as part of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, the
United States purchased from Mexico land that is now
the southwestern region of the United States. Since
then, the government has continuously owned land in
what is now Nevada, including the Bunkerville
Allotment.[3][4] The Nevada Territory, which was
Map of all federally owned land in
the United States. The area in yellow
represents land managed by the Bureau
of Land Management

partitioned in 1861 from the Utah Territory, became a
state in 1864. The original settlers in the 1840s and
1850s were Mormons from Utah and southern smalltime farmers and ranchers from Louisiana, Arkansas,
016

and Mississippi. After 1, 2 end of the American Civil War,
the
ber 3
Octo

d on
much of the land was settled by rural farmers, isquatters and small-time cattle ranchers from
h ve
5 arc

227
Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana, Missouri and Kansas, escaping from the post-Civil War
16-7
.
, No

[citation needed] Since 1934 federal
Reconstruction and the -NVL
DC associated violence and displacement.

v. US

n y
rangelandsuindNevada have been managed principally by either the Bureau of Land
in B
ited

c
Management or its predecessor, the United States Grazing Service, or the United States Forest

Service. As of 2010, 47.8 million acres[5] (more than two-thirds of Nevada's 70.3 million acres)
were managed by the BLM. Throughout the nation, the BLM manages nearly 18,000 grazing
permits and leases,[6] of which about 700 are in Nevada.[7] The season of use and the details of
forage are stipulated in permits and leases; thus federal control can be exerted on the land used
for grazing.[6]

Permits

[edit]

Under Bureau of Land Management permits that had first been issued in 1954, Bundy grazed
his cattle legally and paid his grazing fees on the Bunkerville Allotment until 1993. In that year,
as a protest, Bundy did not pay renewal fees. His permit was canceled in 1994.[8][9] Although the
agency made several attempts to have Bundy renew the permit, the rancher declared that he no
longer recognized the BLM's authority to regulate his grazing, and he asserted that he had
"vested rights" to graze cattle on the land.[3] Federal courts consistently ruled against Bundy,
concluding that he was a trespasser with no right to graze on federal land. The courts authorized
the BLM to remove Bundy's cattle and to levy damages for unauthorized use.[3][10]
Bundy accumulated more than $1 million of unpaid grazing fees and court-ordered fines.[11][12]
The Portland Oregonian newspaper reported in May 2014 that the amount that Bundy owed
stood in "stark contrast" to the situation in Oregon, where just 45 of the state's roughly 1,100

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 4 of 33
grazing permit holders collectively owed $18,759 in past-due payments to the BLM, and only 2
ranchers having left their bills unpaid more than 60 days.[13] Excluding Bundy's unpaid fees, the
total of all late grazing fees owed nationwide to the BLM was only $237,000.[14]

Bundy's worldview

[edit]

Bundy has said he does not recognize federal police
power over land that he believes belongs to the
"sovereign state of Nevada".[15][16] He also denied the
jurisdiction of the federal court system over Nevada land
and he filed an unsuccessful motion to dismiss the
Bureau of Land Management case against him,
claiming that the federal courts have no jurisdiction
because he is a "citizen of Nevada, not the territory of
Nevada".[16] Bundy also claimed that federally owned
land in Nevada actually belongs to the state.[17][18]

Cliven Bundy in 2014

According to The Guardian, Bundy told his supporters
that "We definitely don't recognize [the BLM director's]
jurisdiction or authority, his arresting power or policing power in any way," and in interviews he
used the language of the sovereign citizen movement, thereby gaining the support of members
of the Oath Keepers, the White Mountain Militia and the Praetorian1Guard militias.[19] The
6
1, 20

movement is considered by the FBI as the nation’s top ctober 3 terrorism threat.[20][21]
domestic

nO
ed o
rchiv
aanti-government extremism, described Bundy’s views
J. J. MacNab, who writes for Forbes about
2275
16-7
No.
as inspired by the sovereign ,citizen movement, whose adherents believe that the county sheriff
VL
DC-N
. USlaw-enforcement officer in the country, with authority superior to that of any
v
is the most powerful
ndy
in Bu
ed agent, local law-enforcement agency or any other elected official.[22] On April 12, 2014,
federal
cit

Bundy "ordered" Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie to confront the federal agents, disarm them
and deliver their arms to Bundy within an hour of his demand, and later expressed
disappointment that Gillespie did not comply.[22][23][24]
The Southern Poverty Law Center has described Bundy's views as closely aligned with those of
the Posse Comitatus organization, and it has also asserted that such self-described "patriot"
groups were focused on secession, nullification, state sovereignty and the principles of the
Tenther movement.[25][26]
In May 2014, Bundy changed his political affiliation from the Republican party to the
Independent American Party.[27]

Cancellation of 1996 cattle removal

[edit]

Alan O'Neill, superintendent of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area from 1987 through
2000, is a retired National Park Service official whose tenure at Lake Mead included the early
years of the Bundy dispute.[28] He wrote that he was "told to back off at one point because of
concern for violence."[28] In 1996, the National Park Service made plans to remove cattle that
were illegally trespassing in Lake Mead NRA.[29] O'Neill recalls veiled threats similar to those
made against government workers during the 2014 round-up.[29] Against this background, he
says, "the U.S. attorney's office told us to back off," and the operation was canceled.[29]

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 5 of 33

Grazing on federal rangeland in Nevada

[edit]

Main article: Grazing rights in Nevada
The Taylor Grazing Act of 1934 (TGA) regulates grazing on public lands (excluding Alaska) to
improve rangeland conditions. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) managing about 167
million acres (676,000 km²) of publicly owned rangeland in the United States, with the United
States Forest Service managing approximately 95 million acres (380,000 km²) more.[30]
Permittees on federal rangelands are required to pay a fee, and the permit cannot exceed ten
years but is renewable.[31]

United States v. Bundy

[edit]

The case of United States v. Bundy played out

United States v Bundy

over many years in the United States District Court
for the District of Nevada. It involved court orders,
injunctions, and notices. Bundy argued pro se
(without a lawyer) that the land belongs to the
state. The Bureau of Land Management was
represented by the U.S. Attorney's Office for
Nevada and the United States Department of
Justice.[12] District Judge Larry R. Hicks ruled that

United States District Court for the District of
016 Nevada
31, 2

r
tobe

the land on which Bundy was grazing his cattle ed on Oc case
Full
rchiv
75 a
was indeed owned by the federal government, that
-722
. 16
, No
Bundy had not been payingLto use it as he should
-NV
C
USD
have been,uthat v.
ndy Bundy was trespassing, and that
in B
ited
thecgovernment had the right to enforce the

injunctions against trespass. Hicks found that

name

UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA, Plaintiff, v. CLIVEN
BUNDY, Defendant.

Date decided July 9, 2013 and
October 8, 2013
Transcripts

May 2012 -Complaint

Bundy had repeatedly violated court orders.[12][32]

June 2012 - Answer by
Defendant

1998–2012: Legal actions

Dec 2012 - Plaintiff's Motion
for Summary Judgment

[edit]

United States v. Bundy "arose out of Bundy’s
unauthorized grazing of his livestock on property
owned by the United States and administered by
the Department of the Interior through the BLM
and the National Park Service."[32] On November
3, 1998, United States District Judge Johnnie B.
Rawlinson "permanently enjoined (Bundy) from
grazing his livestock within the Bunkerville
Allotment ("The Allotment"), and shall remove his

January 2013 - Defendant's
Opposition to Plaintiff's
Motion for Summary
Judgment and Defendant's
Cross-Motion to Dismiss
February 2013 - Plaintiff's
Reply in Further Support of
its Summary Judgment
Motion and in Opposition to
Defendant's Cross-Motion to
Dismiss

in the amount of $200.00 per day per head for any

February 2013 - Defendant's
Reply in Further Support of
His Cross-Motion to
Dismiss; Evidentiary Hearing
Requested

livestock belonging to Bundy remaining on the

February 2013 - Plaintiff's

livestock from this allotment on or before
November 30, 1998... (and) ordered that Plaintiff
shall be entitled to trespass damages from Bundy

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 6 of 33
Bunkerville Allotment after November 30, 1998."[3]

Opposition to Defendant's

Rawlinson wrote that "[t]he government has shown

Request for Evidentiary
Hearing

commendable restraint in allowing this trespass to

February 2013 - Defendant's

continue for so long without impounding Bundy’s
livestock."[3]

Reply in Further Support of
Request for Evidentiary

This sentence was restated on

October 8, 2013, by District Judge Larry R.

Hearing

Hicks.[32] On September 17, 1999, after Bundy

July 2013 - Court Order

failed to comply with the court's earlier order(s),

Granting Plaintiff's Motion for
Summary Judgment and

the court issued another order directing Bundy to

Denying Defendant's Motion

comply with the 1998 permanent injunction and

to Dismiss as Moot

modifying the trespass damages owed.[12][32][33]

Oct 2013 Court Order

2012–15: Legal actions

[edit]

Judge sitting 1. Lloyd D. George
2. Larry R. Hicks

Bundy's cattle expanded into additional public land

Prosecutor(s) 1. Ignacia S. Moreno
2. Daniel G. Bogden

over the years. A planned April 2012 roundup of

Defendant(s) Cliven Bundy, pro se

his cattle was called off when Bundy made violent
threats against the Bureau of Land Management.

Case history
Prior actions 1998, order by the same court

The bureau's requests for assistance from the
Clark County Sheriff's Department were met by a
demand of Sheriff Doug Gillespie that the bureau
seek a new warrant because, he said, the original

Case holding
Bundy is permanently enjoined from trespass,

16
Bundy shall remove livestock within 45 days,
1, 20
ber 3
OctoThe United States is entitled to seize and

on
ived
impound cattle.
arch
75
-722
. 16
, No
Because of Gillespie's demand, in May 2012 the
-NVL
SDC
government ndy v.a second United States v. Bundy case,[a] seeking renewed enforcement
filed U
u
in B
authority for the original court orders along with relief for Bundy's trespassing on a new set of
cited

1998 order had become "stale."[34]

additional lands not covered by the original 1998 ruling: "including public lands within the Gold
Butte area that are administered by the BLM, and National Park System land within the Overton
Arm and Gold Butte areas of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area."[35] On December 21,
2012, the United States moved for summary judgment in this new case, and this motion was
granted in an order signed by Senior District Judge Lloyd D. George on July 9, 2013.[35] The
ruling permanently enjoined Bundy and his cattle from trespassing on the New Trespass
Lands.[35] Another order was issued by Judge Larry R. Hicks on October 8, 2013, which
stemmed from the earlier 1998 civil action against Bundy. The order allows the United States to
"protect the ... Bunkerville Allotment against ... trespass" by Bundy and "to seize and remove to
impound" any of his cattle that remain in those areas.[32]

Court judgments against Bundy's claims

[edit]

The Cliven Bundy family owns a 160-acre farm southwest of Bunkerville, which serves as
headquarters and base property for the family's ranching operation on nearby public domain
lands. The farm property was purchased by the Bundy family in 1948, after they moved from
Bundyville, Arizona, and Bundy has claimed that he inherited "pre-emptive grazing rights" on
public domain land because some of his maternal grandmother's ancestors had kept cattle in
the Virgin Valley beginning in 1877.[12][36] Bundy alternatively argued in legal cases that federal

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 7 of 33
grazing rules infringe on Nevada's rights.[12]

Claim of inherited grazing rights

[edit]

There are no legally recognized inherited grazing rights, preemptive rights, special rights, or
grandfathered public-domain land-use rights held by the Bundy family or Bundy's ancestors.[37]
Bundy lost his special-rights arguments in the United States v. Bundy cases.[3] Bundy had only
base property and normal AUM grazing-allotment permits, like the permits of thousands of other
ranchers throughout the western United States. The court found that Bundy and his father
actually first began grazing their cattle on the Bunkerville Allotment in 1954 and used it for
several years. They paid for cattle grazing again from 1973 until 1993, when Bundy paid the last
fees for his final grazing application for the period from December 1, 1992, through February 28,
1993. On January 24, 1994, the Bureau of Land Management delivered a Proposed Decision
Order to Remove and Demand for Payment to Bundy by placing it on the dashboard of Bundy's
vehicle while he was in the vehicle. BLM officials allege that Bundy became agitated, descended
from his truck and accused the BLM of harassing him. He then returned to his truck, threw the
proposed order out of the window and drove away. One of Bundy's sons then picked up the
document, tore it to pieces and threw it on the ground. On February 17, 1994, the BLM issued a
final decision canceling Bundy's range-grazing permit. Bundy subsequently informed the BLM in
several administrative notices that he intended to graze cattle "pursuant to my vested grazing
rights." Bundy failed to demonstrate the existence of any such special rights when given an
16
, 20
er 31
ctob
on O
ived
arch
75
[edit] -722
16
No.

opportunity to do so in court.[3]

Claim of states' rights

L,
C-NV

Bundy lost in U.S. USD
y v. District Court on all his arguments regarding states' rights and jurisdiction in
Bund

in
thecUnited States v. Bundy cases. He had argued that the U.S. District Court for Nevada lacked
ited

jurisdiction because the U.S. did not own the public lands in question. The court ruled that "the
public lands in Nevada are the property of the United States because the United States has held
title to those public lands since 1848, when Mexico ceded the land to the United States." Bundy
had argued that the Disclaimer Clause of the Nevada Constitution carries no legal force.[3]
Bundy also argued that the United States' exercise of ownership over public-domain lands
violated the Equal Footing Doctrine, that Article Four of the United States Constitution (the
Property Clause) applied only to federal lands outside the borders of states, that the government
had based its authority to sanction him on the Endangered Species Act (as opposed to an action
for trespass) and that Nevada's open-range statute excused Bundy's trespass. These
arguments were rejected by the court.[3]

Bureau of Land Management actions
The BLM was tasked with environmental assessment[38]
and various enforcement issues regarding the cattletrespass injunctions. During March and April 2014, it
closed some areas of government lands during the
planning for roundup of the trespass cattle owned by
Bundy. In early April, "just before the roundup got

[edit]

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 8 of 33

underway, a survey conducted by helicopter counted
908 head of cattle scattered across roughly 1,200
square miles of remote mountains and desert managed
by the Bureau of Land Management and the National
Park Service."[39] The BLM stated on its website:[10]
Cattle have been in trespass on public
lands in southern Nevada for more than
BLM Trespass Cattle Closure Map
Apr 11, 2014

two decades. This is unfair to the
thousands of other ranchers who graze
livestock in compliance with federal laws
and regulations throughout the West. The
Bureau of Land Management and the
National Park Service have made repeated
attempts to resolve this matter
administratively and judicially. An

on
ived

16
1, 20
ber 3
Octo

arc on
impoundment of cattle illegally grazing h
275
2
16-7

public lands is now VL, No.conducted as a
being
DC-N

last resort.. US
dy v

n
in Bu
cited

A page on the BLM website, since removed, listed the impacts of Bundy's trespass cattle.
Among these were risks to people driving on roadways, destruction of crops on private property,
damage to community property in the city of Mesquite, negative impacts on city facilities in
Bunkerville, destruction of archaeological artifacts and unauthorized reservoir construction.[40]
The regional off-site mitigation strategies of non-governmental organizations were also delayed
for the Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone,[41] and a matching $400,000 grant from the Walton Family
Foundation to restore habitat for the southwest willow flycatcher along the Virgin River was
delayed on the condition that Bundy remove the trespass cattle.[42]

BLM preparations and execution

[edit]

A closure of the public lands known as Gold Butte, Mormon Mesa, and Bunkerville Flats Areas
was approved by the Department of the Interior on March 24, 2014 and was to be effective
March 27 to May 12, 2014. Additionally, the Federal Register stated that: "This temporary
closure is necessary to limit public access, use, and occupancy during an impoundment of
illegally grazing cattle to ensure the safety and welfare of the public, contractors, and
government employees."[43]
The project area consisted of 802,571 acres, primarily composed of the Bunkerville Allotment
(145,604 acres) and the New Trespass Lands (451,775 acres). Portions of the project area are

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 9 of 33
managed under the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, and the National
Park Service.[38]:3 Not all of the public areas would be closed at the same time if operations
were moved to another location.[43]
No 30-day comment period or public scoping was conducted due to the confidential nature of
law enforcement actions.[38]:5
Involvement of state and local authorities; attempts to negotiate [edit]
Before the round-up, the Bureau of Land Management contacted state and local authorities.[2]
The bureau advised Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval and Nevada Attorney General Catherine
Cortez Masto of the agency's proposed actions.[2] Clark County sheriff Doug Gillespie relayed
information from the BLM and helped negotiate an end to the standoff.[44] In 2012 and again
during the 2014 roundup, the BLM had reportedly offered to buy Bundy's cattle and give him
proceeds from their eventual sale. According to Cliven Bundy's son, Ammon Bundy, Gillespie
also delivered an offer for the bureau to leave the area and keep the cattle.[2]
First Amendment zones [edit]
The Bureau of Land Management designated two First Amendment zones "...for members of the
public to express their First Amendment rights: Interstate 15 and Exit 112 for Riverside and
State Route 170 and White Rock Road"[45][46] with just one of the two First Amendment zones
open at any one time at the daily discretion of the "Incident Command staff". A third area,
2016

r 31
Interstate 15 and Toquap Wash (between mile marker 114eand,115),[47] was designated as a
tob
n Oc

ed o
media area and "...BLM/NPS credentialed media..." could request tours by appointment inside
rchiv
75 a

the enclosure area to obtain b-roll 6-722 no live feed and satellite trucks allowed.[38]:10[43]
o. 1 video,

VL, N
DC-N
US
Roundup yield v. [edit]
ndy
n Bu
i
cited

Government contractors using horses and a small helicopter succeeded in penning almost 400
trespass cattle from April 5 to 9, 2014. "According to state brand inspectors, almost 90 percent
of the cattle rounded up by midweek bore Bundy's brand. Of the remaining animals, five
belonged to a neighboring rancher, four were marked with brands that couldn't be read, and the
rest were slicks, a ranching term for unmarked livestock."[39] Six animals died, four were
euthanized. One, a bull "posed a significant threat," while another ran into a fence, injuring its
spine. The circumstances for the other two were not explained.[48] A state brand inspector said
the bull "might have got frightened, but that's no reason to shoot a bull." Another said that bulls
sometimes charge at people, adding that it takes "a pretty good-size weapon" to kill Bundy's
breed of bull.[49]
After the roundup was suspended because of safety concerns, BLM spokesman Craig Leff said
the agency would try to resolve the matter "administratively and judicially." Leff said: "The door
isn't closed. We'll figure out how to move forward with this." He added: "The BLM and National
Park Service did not cut any deal and negotiate anything."[50]

Confrontations and protests in April 2014

[edit]

In late March, Bundy sent letters entitled "Range War Emergency Notice and Demand for
Protection" to county, state, and federal officials.[51] In media interviews, Bundy used the

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 10 of 33
language of the sovereign citizen movement as a rallying call, beckoning support from members
of the Oath Keepers, the White Mountain Militia, and the Praetorian Guard.[52]
At a March 27 meeting of the Bunkerville Town Advisory Board, Cliven Bundy's son, Ryan
Bundy, spoke on state sovereignty and land-ownership matters: "This is an issue of state
sovereignty ... These large tracts of land that Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service,
monuments, parks and, you know, National Parks, et cetera, et cetera, there is no
constitutionality to them at all."[53][54][55] He also described his family's position:
If they are going to be out in the hills stealing our property, we will put measures of
defense. And they have always asked us, "What will you do, what will you do?" and
our stance has always been we will do whatever it takes. Open-ended. And
because of that, that's why they are scared, because they don't know to what level
we will go to protect, but we will protect.[53][55]
In early April, armed people and private militia members from across the United States joined
peaceful protesters against the trespass-cattle roundup in what has become known as the Battle
of Bunkerville (evoking an association with the Battle of Bunker Hill).[12][56] BLM enforcement
agents were dispatched in response to what were seen as threatening statements by Bundy,
such as calling the events a "range war".[57]
With many roads closed to ensure safety during the cattle removal, 6
controversial designated
201
r 31,

tobe
First Amendment zones where protesters could safely congregate or exercise their First
n Oc
ed o

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Amendment right to peaceably assemble werevmarked with signs and orange plastic fences
75 a
-722

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adjacent to the road.[58][59] On April 8, 2014, Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval issued a
L, N
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USD
statement calling.for the removal of the First Amendment restrictions he described as
yv
Bund

in
offensive.[60] After stating that peaceful protests had crossed into illegal activity, the federal
cited

agencies allowed protesters to go anywhere on the public land as long as they were
peaceful.[61]

April 10 confrontations and protests

[edit]

On April 10, protesters blocked a BLM truck and demanded to know why a backhoe and dump
truck were being used in the operation.[12] The BLM's director in Nevada later said that the
equipment was being used for field restoration.[12] According to a statement from the BLM, the
blocked truck "was struck by a protester on an ATV" (all-terrain vehicle).[12] Officers protecting
the truck driver had Tasers and police dogs. The protesters angrily confronted the rangers.
According to CNN, "Federal officials say a police dog was kicked and officers were assaulted.
Bundy family members say they were thrown to the ground or jolted with a Taser."[12] [62]

April 12 confrontations and suspension of roundup

[edit]

On the morning of April 12, an armed crowd rallied under a banner that read "Liberty Freedom
For God We Stand". Most had signs, many of which chided "government thugs". Addressing the
protesters, Bundy said, "We definitely don't recognize [the BLM director's] jurisdiction or
authority, his arresting power or policing power in any way" and "We're about ready to take the
country over with force!" After the BLM announced a suspension of the roundup, Bundy
[52]

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 11 of 33
suggested blocking a highway.

Armed protesters blocked a portion of Interstate 15 for more

than two hours, causing traffic backups for three miles in both directions.[63] Protesters also
converged at the mouth of Gold Butte, the preserve where the cattle were corralled, and a tense,
hour-long standoff ensued. BLM rangers warned over loudspeakers that they were prepared to
use tear gas.[52] Former Arizona Sheriff Richard Mack, who was with the protesters, said that
they were "strategizing to put all the women up at the front. If they are going to start shooting, it's
going to be women that are going to be televised all across the world getting shot by these
rogue federal officers".[9] Protestors with rifles took positions on a highway overpass, seemingly
offering cover as horse-mounted wranglers led protesters to face off against heavily equipped
BLM rangers and snipers.[52] Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, who officially traveled to the Bundy
standoff to convey that Utah did not want the cattle, put the number of federal agents present at
over 200.[64] According to Las Vegas assistant sheriff Joe Lombardo, there were 24 BLM
rangers and Las Vegas deputy sheriffs present at the standoff.[65] Las Vegas police were not
allowed to wear protective gear because of fear that it would be seen as a provocation.[66] Clark
County Sheriff Gillespie blames the escalation of the situation on the BLM, stating to the Las
Vegas Review-Journal that the BLM has lied to him about having a place to take the cattle and
the BLM did not attend town-hall meetings and disregarded his advice as County Sheriff.[67]
The Las Vegas Review-Journal reported that tensions reached a "critical level" during the
standoff, "with rifles pointing toward each side."[68][69] Las Vegas station KLAS-TV also reported
that guns were pointed at officers.[66] Assistant Sheriff Lombardo recounted that "they were in
6
, 201

my face yelling profanities and pointing weapons," and ctober "We were outgunned, outmanned,
said, 31
on O

and there would not have been a good result hived it."[66]
arc from
275
6-72

o. 1
A photojournalist for Reuters, wrote that armed supporters had "taken up tactical positions on
VL N
C-N

. US
government officers,"Dand that one man pointing a rifle in the direction of BLM employees said,
dy v
Bun

"I'veited in clear shot at four of them."[70] Another man said, "I'm ready to pull the trigger if fired
c got a
upon."[70]

Las Vegas Metro Deputy Chief Tom Roberts defused the situation by announcing that Bundy's
cattle would be returned within 30 minutes.[52] The BLM announced that it would suspend the
mass roundup,[1][71] citing safety reasons. Clark County Sheriff Gillespie mediated the
agreement between the Bundy family and the BLM, saying, "[W]hen a group of protesters
threaten civil unrest or violence in this county -- it is my job to step in and ensure the safety of
citizens."[63] BLM Director Neil Kornze said that "Based on information about conditions on the
ground, and in consultation with law enforcement, we have made a decision to conclude the
cattle gather because of our serious concern about the safety of employees and members of the
public."[68][69][72][73]
BLM spokesman Craig Leff stated on April 14 in an email that "The gather is over" but that the
agency planned to seek a solution "administratively and judicially" and intended to pursue court
action to collect more than $1 million in back grazing fees owed by Bundy.[74]
Las Vegas police stated that business owners in Mesquite had received threats because of the
conflict.[68][69] Militiamen were reportedly seen carrying rifles, keeping a round-the-clock security
detail on Bundy, and setting up checkpoints.[75]

Unmet demands to disarm federal agents and destroy entrance stations

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 12 of 33
[edit]

After the BLM announced that it would release the gathered cattle, Bundy demanded that the
county sheriff disarm the National Park Service "at Lake Mead and Red Rock park and all other
parks where the federal government claims they have jurisdiction over."[76] He requested that
the arms be delivered within one hour.[76] Bundy further demanded that county bulldozers or
loaders be used to "tear down that entrance places where they ticket us and where they injure
us and make us citizens pay their fees."[77] The demands, which he described as a "mandate
from we the people",[78] were not met.
Bundy made similar statements two days later when he appeared on Glenn Beck's radio
show[78] and the Fox News program Hannity.[79] He reiterated the demands on Sean Hannity's
program: "The demand on the sheriff was de-arm the Park Service rangers, and de-arm Red
Rock rangers — that's two parks very close to the Lake Mead area. And then the demand was,
tear down the toll booth shacks."[80] After expressing disappointment that the demands had not
been met, he requested to "every county sheriff across the United States" that they "disarm the
federal bureaucrats."[79][81]
Bundy is reported to have described these demands as "a revelation that I received."[82]
According to Esquire, Bundy told a crowd, "The good Lord said, ‘Bundy, it’s not your job, it’s their
job.’ ... This morning, I said a prayer, and this is what I received. I heard a voice say, 'Sheriff
Gillespie, your work is not done. Every sheriff across the United States, take the guns away from
the United States bureaucrats."[82]
on
ived
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16-7
No.
VL,
DC-N
. US
v

16
1, 20
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Octo

Events following April 2014 cattle gather
ndy
BLMdattempts to communicate with Bundy
in Bu
cite

[edit]

[edit]

After the roundup was suspended, Cliven Bundy received several certified letters from the BLM
that he refused to open.[83][84] A BLM spokesperson said that the letters included notices that
"provide Mr. Bundy the opportunity to buy back the gathered cattle." The spokesperson did not
explain why the agency had sent Bundy notices regarding cattle that had been released to
him.[85]

Cliven Bundy statements and actions

[edit]

Bundy alleged that the federal government wants to kill him for challenging its authority.[83]
During a press conference, he made controversial racial statements that were widely
repudiated.[11]
On May 2, 2014, Bundy and his family filed a complaint with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police
Department alleging crimes committed by federal agents, including illegally blocking roads,
harassing photographers, using attack dogs, pointing weapons and threatening people.[86][87]
During a June 3, 2014, radio program Cliven Bundy spoke with a small group of candidates for
Clark County sheriff. He did not endorse any candidate, but he said that he did not want a
peacemaker in that position. "You gonna be a peacemaker," said Bundy, "you're gonna be on
the BLM's side."[88]

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 13 of 33

Continued presence of Bundy supporters

[edit]

At a "Patriot Party" after the standoff, supporters were treated to music from Ron Keel, a singer
who worked with Black Sabbath for a short while in 1984.[89]
In late April, Nevada Congressman Steven Horsford contacted Clark County sheriff Doug
Gillespie regarding complaints from community members. The reported complaints alleged that
Bundy militia supporters had established a persistent presence along roads, that they had set up
checkpoints for citizens to prove residence, and that they had established an armed presence
around churches, a school, and other community locations.[90][91] One local resident said that
neighbors on their way to an Easter Sunday church service were greeted by armed militia
members, causing some of them not to enter "for fear and disgust of having their church
basically held captive."[2] According to the Associated Press, Cliven Bundy acknowledged
"creating a stir", saying that there may have been weapons in the parking lot, but there were
none in the church.[92]
Las Vegas station KLAS-TV reported that armed protestors had blocked a county road and
attempted to prevent a news crew from passing.[93] The station also reported that "some poured
lighter fluid around our news vehicle while others got physical."[94] Bundy says that armed
guards screen visitors at his ranch, but says that militia have not set up checkpoints on public
property.[92]
Mike Vanderboegh, a militia leader who remained in Nevada after the standoff, accused Senator
016
31, 2

er
Harry Reid of provoking a “civil war” and said not to "pokebthe wolverine with a sharp stick,
Octo
d on

Harry, unless you want your balls ripped 5 arc[95]eVanderboegh is the author of a novel that
off." hiv
7227

allegedly inspired a domestic No. 16-plot[96][97] and the leader of the Three Percenters Group,[96]
, terror
-NVL

DC
which the Anti-Defamation League characterizes as "part of an anti-government extremist
v. US
undy

in B
movement".[98]
ited
c

Media outlets reported on conflict between different factions of Bundy supporters.[99] A "wild,
paranoid rumor" that Attorney General Eric Holder was preparing a drone strike against them
caused Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes to remove his men from the supposed "kill
zone".[99][100] In a recorded video, other Bundy supporters talked openly of shooting Rhodes for
what they viewed as "desertion" and "cowardice".[99][100] Rhodes later described one situation
as "this close from being a gunfight".[101] He recounted another situation in which he said a man
drew a gun on a member of another militia.[101]
Esquire has described an assortment of fringe beliefs held by individual Bundy supporters who
remained at the ranch: That Barack Obama is "a Muslim Kenyan", that the BLM works for the
United Nations, that people born in or after 1980 may be implanted with microchips, and that
bar-certified lawyers have sworn allegiance to Britain and regularly have sex with clients.[82]
Militia members have attempted to crowdfund their continued stay at the Bundy ranch. The site
GoFundMe took down campaigns by Blaine Cooper and Christopher E. Ferrell.[102] According to
Nevada representative Steven Horsford, only about 15 armed militia remained as of early
June.[88]

FBI and U.S. Capitol Police investigations

[edit]

On May 8, Clark County sheriff's officials said that they were interviewed by the FBI as part of an

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 14 of 33
investigation into armed Bundy supporters who confronted federal officers during the
standoff.[103] The investigation was confirmed by Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie, who
stated "I’ve said all along there has to be accountability for what took place on April 12."[104]
Joe Lombardo, who was in charge of police officers at the scene and who was interviewed on
May 1, said the FBI agents were primarily interested in who was pointing weapons at federal
agents, and that he expected the FBI to be poring over videotapes and photos taken during the
standoff in order to identify people making threats.[65]
After Senator Harry Reid criticized Bundy supporters, Politico reported that sources said the
Senator had been the subject of threats and consequently had increased his security detail. A
spokesman for the US Capitol Police, without commenting on the nature of any threats against
Harry Reid, said, "We are currently looking into threatening statements made against Sen. Reid
as part of an ongoing investigation."[105]

2014 Las Vegas shootings

[edit]

Main article: 2014 Las Vegas shootings
On June 8, 2014, Jerad and Amanda Miller killed two Las Vegas police officers and a civilian
before Amanda Miller took her life. Jerad Miller was fatally wounded and died during a shootout
with police.[106] During the attacks, they shouted "this is a revolution", and they covered the
bodies of the officers in a Gadsden flag and left a copy of a manifesto bearing a
16

, 0
swastika.[107][108] Their original plan may have been to take rover2a courthouse and execute
e 31
b
Octo

public officials.[109] The Millers had moved from ed on
iv Indiana to the Las Vegas area in
arch

2 75
January.[107][110] They were quoted-on2Reno television KRNV: "I feel sorry for any federal agents
16 7
.
, No

V
that want to come here andLtry to push around or anything like that. I really don't want violence
DC-N
v. US

dy
toward themnbut if they're gonna come and bring violence to us, well, if that's the language they
n Bu
i
ited

c
want to speak, we'll learn it."[110] Miller commented on the issues involved in greater length in

social media, and interviewed other protesters at the Bundy ranch.[111][112]
Interior Secretary Sally Jewell reacted to the shootings, saying, "It's very important to bring
lawbreakers to justice. There's no question that my colleagues back here, the governors of
Western states, do not want people riding roughshod over the landscape ... [Bundy] put our
people in grave danger by calling in armed civilians from around the country, and that's not
okay." Carol Bundy said, "I have not seen or heard anything from the militia and others who
have came to our ranch that would, in any way, make me think they had an intent to kill or harm
anyone."[113] Bundy's son said that the couple had been asked to leave the ranch after a few
days because they were "very radical" and did not align themselves with the protest's main
issues.[107] According to Mark Potok, a spokesperson for the Southern Poverty Law Center,
Jerad and Amanda Miller considered the outcome of the standoff as "a huge victory against the
federal government", which reportedly motivated them to commit the shooting spree.[114]

2016 Burns, Oregon standoff

[edit]

Main articles: Occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge and Citizens for
Constitutional Freedom
In January 2016, armed men led by Ammon and Ryan Bundy seized control of the headquarters
of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, Oregon. The occupation ended 40 days

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 15 of 33
later on February 11, when the final occupier willingly went into custody.[115] On his way to
Burns to rally support, Cliven Bundy was arrested at Portland International Airport on February
10.[116]

Aftermath

[edit]

Reactions by public officials

[edit]

Senators [edit]
Republican Senator Dean Heller of Nevada complained of federal actions during the standoff,
saying, "I told him [BLM Director Neil Kornze] very clearly that law-abiding Nevadans must not
be penalized by an over-reaching BLM".[57] Heller said of the Bundy supporters, "These people
are patriots." Heller made that statement during the same television interview in which Senator
Harry Reid described the Bundy supporters as "domestic terrorists." [117] After the resolution he
stated, "emotions and tensions are still near the boiling point."[63] Later on he said that Bundy
should pay the BLM the more than $1 million in grazing fees owed to the agency.[118]
After the BLM left the area for safety concerns, Nevada's senior U.S. Senator and then Senate
Majority Leader Harry Reid said, "Well, it's not over. We can't have an American people that
violate the law and then just walk away from it. So it's not over."[119] Reid also referred to the
militia supporting Bundy as "domestic terrorists".[120][121]

16
1, 20
ber 3
Octo

on
ived
arch
275
Republican Representative Chris16-72
Stewart (R-Utah) decried the BLM and other agencies for
No.
VL,
staffing their departments with what he called “paramilitary units” and “SWAT team[s]”. However,
DC-N
. US
yv
B ofd
the Bureauun Land Management does not have a SWAT team, according to The Salt Lake
ed in
cit

Congressional representatives [edit]

Tribune, which editorialized that Stewart's views "may be one of the worst ideas in the history of

bad ideas."[122] In response, a BLM agency’s spokeswoman said that the BLM doesn’t have any
SWAT or tactical teams. An Interior Department representative said that the BLM “had law
enforcement personnel present to provide safety for their employees and the public".[123]
On April 19, 2014, Texas Republican Steve Stockman sent a letter to President Barack Obama,
Department of the Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, and BLM Director Neil Kornze, stating that the
BLM was overreaching its law enforcement authority with what he called a "paramilitary
raid."[124][unreliable source?]
In a July 20, 2014 Washington Post column titled Nevada: Burned by the Rants of Hotheads,
Representative Steven Horsford (D-Nevada) described recent incidents of violence in his district
and nearby states, and criticized the "nonstop attention and demagoguery from media and
politicians alike," saying: "There can be reasonable disagreements about the Bundy Ranch. But
we can disagree without offering refuge to dangerous individuals on the fringe."[125]
Nevada governor and state lawmakers [edit]
Governor Brian Sandoval sided with Bundy, saying, "No cow justifies the atmosphere of
intimidation which currently exists nor the limitation of constitutional rights that are sacred to all
Nevadans. The BLM needs to reconsider its approach to this matter and act accordingly."[57]

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 16 of 33
Nevada Assemblywoman Michele Fiore, who supported Bundy, aiding him with his returned
calves, said, "It's time for Nevada to stand up to the federal government and demand the return
of the BLM lands to the people of Nevada."[74]
Arizona state lawmakers [edit]
On April 15, 2014, a group of Republican state legislators from Arizona, including
Representatives Bob Thorpe (R-Flagstaff), David Livingston (R-Peoria), Kelly Townsend (RMesa), Senators Judy Burges (R-Sun City West), and Kelli Ward (R-Lake Havasu City) traveled
to Mesquite, Nevada, to support Bundy in his standoff with the BLM.[126][127]
Arizona Representative Kelly Townsend said that the scenes at the ranch amid the dispute gave
her a "visceral reaction... It sounds dramatic, but it reminded me of Tiananmen Square. I don’t
recognize my country at this point." Her colleague, Bob Thorpe of Flagstaff, said that he was one
of about three dozen state legislators who had sent a letter about the standoff to Nevada and
federal officials.[128]

Reactions from media

[edit]

Media personalities have weighed in on the confrontations. During the standoff, Bundy was
interviewed (via remote link) by television host Sean Hannity. Hannity stated that some fear
events could wind up mirroring the Waco siege and Ruby Ridge and said, "This is public land,
and it’s not being used, in my mind, and I'm not a rancher, (but) I 016 think the federal
would
31, 2

government might be thankful because you're cuttingOctober for free, and they're charging
the lawn
n
ed o

hiv
huge amounts of money, right, to let your cattle graze there with these fees".[129] In contrast, a
5 arc
7
-722

16
comparison of BLM grazingLfees. with private land market prices demonstrated the Bundy's are
, No
-NV

DC
getting a 93% discount by grazing on BLM land.[130]
v. US
ndy
in Bu

cited
Editorial responses from newspapers have been mixed. The Las Vegas Review-Journal wrote

that the BLM was right to defuse the situation, but that the confrontation showed the problems of
federal land ownership in the state and called for the federal government to sell off the land in
question.[131] The Las Vegas Sun wrote that "Bundy hit a trifecta of sorts: He violated the laws
Congress made, ignored the judicial branch’s orders, and defied the executive branch’s efforts
to enforce those laws and orders ... In the end, Bundy isn’t the victor; anarchy is. The rule of law,
and society as a whole, lost."[132] The Casper Star-Tribune wrote that Bundy was cheating
taxpayers, an "embarrassment to ranchers in Wyoming and across the West who work hard, pay
their taxes and maintain good relationships with managers of federal land on which their cattle
graze."[133]
In response to Bundy supporter Mike Vanderboegh's comment, "Don’t poke the wolverine with a
sharp stick, Harry [Reid], unless you want your balls ripped off," a writer for The Nation framed
the remark as part of a larger, right-wing obsession with castration.[96] Gawker lampooned militia
crowdfunding attempts as a "welfare drive" to "sit around doing nothing".[134]

Reactions by Bundy and supporters

[edit]

About 1,500 Bundy supporters attended a celebration on April 18, where they ate Bundy beef,
read cowboy poetry, and wore "domestic terrorist" name tags,[11] referencing a comment made
by Nevada Senator Harry Reid.[120] Bundy said he would continue holding a daily news

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 17 of 33
conference.[11]
Some protesters termed the standoff as the Battle of Bunkerville,[135] although there was
actually no armed battle.
Some Tea Party Movement supporters expressed solidarity with the Bundys, including three
Southern Nevada Tea Party groups that organized a protest outside Las Vegas police
headquarters on April 11, 2014, claiming that Sheriff Doug Gillespie had failed in his duty to
protect Nevadans from abuse by the federal government.[136]
The Bundy family claimed victory on having its cattle returned.[137] In an interview after the
BLM's withdrawal, Sean Hannity asked Bundy if he had a reply to Senator Harry Reid's
comment that the situation was not over. Bundy said, "I don't have a response for Harry Reid,
but I have a response for every county sheriff across the United States. Disarm the federal
bureaucrats."[119][138]
An Oklahoma militia with members present in Nevada stated their support for Cliven Bundy.[139]
Scott Shaw, a co-founder of the Oklahoma Volunteer Militia, said the militia was prepared to use
deadly force, but that its members would not fire unless fired upon.[140] When an interviewer
asked about a situation in which the government might use rubber bullets, which are designed to
incapacitate and not kill,[141] Shaw responded, "How are we supposed to know that they’re firing
rubber bullets when it has been fired?”[140] During an appearance on The O'Reilly Factor, host
Bill O'Reilly asked Shaw what made Cliven Bundy different from Occupy Wall Street supporters.
16
1, 20

Shaw replied that Cliven Bundy is "providing the countryober 3beef" and that the two groups have
ct with
on O
ived
arch
2275
16-7
No. a convicted felon with alleged ties to the sovereign citizen
In Texas, Michael Joseph VL,
Kearns,
DC-N
. US
v
movement who describes himself as a "self-taught paralegal", filed a motion seeking to overturn
ndy
in Bu
ed ruling allowing the BLM to seize Bundy's cattle.[143] After the judge ruled that Kearns had
a 2013
cit

different methods of dissent.[142]

no standing, Kearns filed another motion.[143] He wrote that the judge's "orders, judgments and
mandates, have no rightful or lawful force and effect upon the people of the United States.”
Describing Kearns as an “abusive filer”, the judge directed the federal clerk to return, “without
docketing,” any future documents Kearns tries to file.[143] Kearns, who has denied that he is part
of the sovereign citizen movement,[143] was convicted in 1996 of one count conspiracy to
defraud the United States and seven counts of aiding and abetting mail fraud.[144] Kearns was
released from federal prison on May 3, 2006.[145]

Legal and rule-of-law reactions

[edit]

Atlantic reporter Matt Ford pointed out that Bundy's claim, "I abide by all of Nevada state laws.
But I don’t recognize the United States government as even existing," is at odds with Nevada's
law, specifically the state's constitution. Framed during the Civil War, Nevada's constitution
specifically mentions the rights of the federal government, stating in Article 1, Section 2, "The
Paramount Allegiance of every citizen is due to the Federal Government in the exercise of all its
Constitutional powers as the same have been or may be defined by the Supreme Court of the
United States...whensoever any portion of the States, or people thereof attempt to secede from
the Federal Union, or forcibly resist the Execution of its laws, the Federal Government may, by
warrant of the Constitution, employ armed force in compelling obedience to its Authority."[146]

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 18 of 33
The Salt Lake City Tribune published an editorial on April 15 entitled "Bundy is a lawbreaker, not
a hero", in which it said, "Don't let him get away with it" and "The only winner in this was a
scofflaw who has twice lost in the courts for running cattle where they don’t belong and skipping
out on grazing fees. Some 20,000 ranchers in Western states abide by BLM regulations, so
what makes Bundy special?" To sum it up, the Tribune said, "When some manage to avoid
justice by extralegal means, the rule of law is weakened for all Americans."[147]
Some of Bundy's neighbors were not impressed by his actions.[9] "I feel that the rule of law
supersedes armed militias coming in from all over the country to stand with a law-breaking
rancher, which is what he is", Mesquite resident Elaine Hurd told local television station
KLAS.[9][50]
Roger Taylor, a retired BLM district manager in Arizona, said the agency's decision to release
the cattle would have repercussions. "The (agency) is going to be in a worse situation where
they will have a much more difficult time getting those cattle off the land and getting Bundy in
compliance with regulations," he said.[148]
Dallas Hyland, in his column in Utah's St. George News, wrote, "The stand-down was necessary
to prevent bloodshed, but it must be recognized that if Bundy and a multitude of his supporters,
militia friends, and even family members who broke the law, are allowed to go unpunished,
anarchy will follow.[149][150] In the case of Bundy and the Gold Butte designations, the
government did it right. They continued to do it right in the face of the lawless behavior of a
16
1, 20
ber 3
Octo

rancher and his militia henchmen."[149]

on
ived
arch
Reactions related to American7Indian history [edit]
22 5
16-7
No.
VL,
Indian Country Today Media Network wrote that government treatment of Cliven Bundy "stands
DC-N
. US
yv
in stark icontrast to what was done to the Dann sisters and other Indigenous Peoples on
Bund
ed n
cit

Shoshone territory"[151] and that "United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial

Discrimination found "credible information alleging that the Western Shoshone indigenous
people are being denied their traditional rights to land."[152] An editorial in the Las Vegas
Review-Journal also contrasted Bundy's dispute with that of the Dann Sisters.[153]
A Las Vegas news outlet reported that the Moapa band of Paiute Indians had provided them
with a map indicating that a federal treaty had promised them the land on which the Bundy ranch
is situated."[154]

Political commentary reactions

[edit]

David Damore, a political science professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said that
there is "a great ability on the part of these folks to overlook the reality of how much the federal
government subsidized Nevada in terms of big projects – the Hoover Dam, the mining subsidies.
It's a welfare cowboy mindset."[52]
Brad Knickerbocker of the Christian Science Monitor saw the events as echoing the Sagebrush
Rebellion, a 1970s movement to transfer control of public domain lands to the states.[155][156]

Environmentalist reactions

[edit]

The nonprofit Center for Biological Diversity stated, "Despite having no legal right to do so, cattle

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 19 of 33
from Bundy's ranch have continued to graze throughout the Gold Butte area, competing with
tortoises for food, hindering the ability of plants to recover from extensive wildfires, trampling
rare plants, damaging ancient American Indian cultural sites and threatening the safety of
recreationists."[10]
Rob Mrowka, also with the Center for Biological Diversity, said that the BLM "is allowing a
freeloading rancher and armed thugs to seize hundreds of thousands of acres of the people's
land as their own. It's backing down in the face of threats and posturing of armed
sovereignists."[74]
Environmentalists held that the BLM's withdrawal sent the wrong message to law-abiding
ranchers who do secure grazing permits and operate within the law.[74]

Aftermath from Bureau of Land Management

[edit]

Twenty months after the incident, Bundy had not paid the fees and continued to graze cattle on
Federal land.[157][158] A spokesperson for the Bureau of Land Management wrote in response to
a reporter's inquiry: "Our primary goal remains to resolve this matter safely and according to the
rule of the law." The response added "The Bureau of Land Management remains resolute in
addressing issues involved in efforts to gather Mr. Bundy's cattle and we are pursuing the matter
through the legal system.”[158] The BLM spokesperson also said "The Department of Justice has
the lead on any investigation of federal crimes that may have been committed." The US
Attorney's Office in Las Vegas would neither confirm or deny 31, 2016 was a criminal
that there
er
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on O
ived
arch
275
-72
o. 16
L, N
V
DC-N
v. US

investigation.[159]

Criminal charges against standoff participants

[edit]
y
nd
in Bu
ClivendBundy was arrested in Portland, Oregon on February 10, 2016. On February 17, Bundy,
cite

his sons Ammon and Ryan, the Montana militia leader Ryan Payne and the Ohio-based
independent broadcaster Peter Santilli were all indicted for 16 federal felonies. A further 14
individuals were charged on March 3, 2016. Those under indictment as of March 3, 2016,[160]
are:
Ammon Bundy, 40, of Emmett, Idaho
Cliven Bundy, 69, of Bunkerville, Nevada
David Bundy, 39, of Delta, Utah
Melvin Bundy, 41, of Round Mountain, Nevada
Ryan Bundy, 43, of Bunkerville, Nevada
Gregory Burleson, 52, of Phoenix, Arizona
Brian Cavalier, 44, of Bunkerville, Nevada
Blaine Cooper, 36, of Dewey-Humboldt, Arizona
Gerald DeLemus, 61, of Rochester, New Hampshire
Scott Drexler, 44, of Challis, Idaho
Todd Engel, 48, of Boundary County, Idaho
Richard Lovelien, 52, of Westville, Oklahoma
Micah McGuire, 31 of Chandler, Arizona
Joseph O'Shaughnessy, 43, of Cottonwood, Arizona

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 20 of 33

Eric Parker, 32, of Hailey, Idaho
Ryan Payne, 32, of Anaconda, Montana
Peter Santilli, 50, of Cincinnati, Ohio
Steven Stewart, 36, of Hailey, Idaho
Jason Woods, 30, of Chandler, Arizona
They have all been charged with the following federal
felonies:
Conspiracy to commit an offense against the United
States – maximum penalty 5 years' imprisonment,
$250,000 fine

US District Court of Nevada
indictment against Gerald A. DeLemus
and others

Conspiracy to impede and injure a federal law
enforcement officer – 6 years, $250,000 fine
Assault on a federal law enforcement officer – 20 years, $250,000 fine
Threatening a federal law enforcement officer – 10 years, $250,000 fine
16

, 5
Use and carry of a firearm in relation to a crime of violence1–20 years minimum, life sentence
er 3
b
Octo

on
ived
arch
227
Obstruction of the due administration5of justice - 10 years, $250,000 fine
16-7
No.
,
Interference with DC-NVL commerce by extortion - 20 years, $250,000 fine
interstate
. US
v
Interstate dy
Bun travel in aid of extortion – 20 years, $250,000 fine
ed in
cit

maximum, and consecutive

Their trials have been postponed from May 2, 2016 to February 6, 2017.[161]

See also

[edit]

Occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge
Bureau of Land Management
Grazing rights
Militia organizations in the United States
Recapture Canyon
Sagebrush Rebellion
Tenther movement

Notes

[edit]

a. ^ Case No. 2:12-cv-0804-LDG-GWF

References

[edit]

1. ^ a b Knapp, George; Lauren Rozyla.

"BREAKING NEWS: BLM ends roundup of Bundy cattle"

KLAS-TV Las Vegas. Retrieved April 12, 2014 .
abcde

.

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 21 of 33
2. ^

Ralston, Jon (April 28, 2014).

"The Not-So-Jolly Rancher: How federal officials botched the

Bundy cattle roundup" . Politico. Archived from the original

on May 16, 2014. Retrieved May 16,

2014. "Bundy’s family bought property there after World War II, and that the Moapa Paiute Indians
actually were there first ... By the beginning of this month, the BLM was ready to make its move, once
again involving state and local authorities. In the run-up to what occurred on April 5, I have confirmed,
Gov. Brian Sandoval and Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto were kept apprised of the federal
agency’s actions."
3. ^ a b c d e f g h i Decision and Order - United States v Bundy - 1998

. United States District Court

for the District of Nevada. November 3, 1998. p. 5.
4. ^ Gray, Tom. "Teaching With Documents: The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo"

. National

Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved April 24, 2014.
5. ^ Ross W. Gorte; Carol Hardy Vincent; Laura A. Hanson; Marc R. Rosenblum (February 8, 2012).
"Federal Land Ownership: Overview and Data"

(PDF). Table 2. Federal Acreage in Each State

Administered by the Four Federal Land Management Agencies and the Department of Defense,
2010. Congressional Research Service. Retrieved April 28, 2014 .
6. ^ a b "Fact Sheet on the BLM's Management of Livestock Grazing" . United States Department of the
Interior Bureau of Land Management. March 28, 2014 . Retrieved April 24, 2014 .
7. ^ "Public Land Statistics 2012"

(PDF). United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land

Management. June 2013. Retrieved May 17, 2014 .
8. ^ ROGERS, KEITH (April 20, 2014).

"Environmentalists: Bunkerville rancher Bundy is freeloading" .

LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. Retrieved March 29, 2015 . "1993 - The BLM modifies Bundy’s
grazing permit by reducing the size allowed for his herd to 150 and restricts where his cattle can graze in
16
1, 20
the Gold Butte area. He refuses the permit and stops paying grazing fees. The BLM cancels his permit."
ber 3
Octo
d on
9. ^ a b c d Fuller, Jaime (April 15, 2014). "Everything you need to know about the long fight between
hive
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Cliven Bundy and the federal government" . The Washington Post. Retrieved April 15, 2014 .
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10. ^ a b c Glionna, John. VL
DC-N "BLM seizes cattle in range war with stubborn Nevada rancher" . Los Angeles
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ndy
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i
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11. ^ a b c d Nagourney, Adam (April 23, 2014). "A Defiant Rancher Savors the Audience That Rallied to H
Side" . The New York Times. Retrieved April 24, 2014 .
12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Martinez, Michael (April 10, 2014).

"Showdown on the range: Nevada rancher, feds

face off over cattle grazing rights" . CNN . Retrieved April 10, 2014 .
13. ^ Zaitz, Les (May 12, 2014).

"Rancher Cliven Bundy's grazing debt has no equal among Oregon

cattlemen" . The Oregonian. Archived from the original

on May 13, 2014 . Retrieved May 13, 201

"Past-due bills owed by cattlemen for grazing on Oregon's federal lands aren't enough to cover the price of
a new pick-up truck. The Bureau of Land Management said that as of late April 2014, 45 cattlemen owed a
collective $18,759. And most of that is barely past due, with just two ranchers leaving their bills unpaid 60
days or more, considered a truly delinquent account in private business ... Jeff Clark, BLM public affairs
officer in Portland, said the agency has 1,100 permit holders."
14. ^ Morgan, Whitaker (June 6, 2014).

"Bundy owes the government more than all other ranchers

combined" . MSNBC . Retrieved June 7, 2014 . "Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy owes more money to the
federal government for outstanding grazing fees than all other ranchers combined, according to the Bureau
of Land Management. While Bundy owes more than a $1 million to the BLM, the total sum of all other
late grazing fees totals a comparatively small $237,000, according to BLM data first reported by E&E
News."
15. ^ Strasser, Max. "For Militiamen, the Fight for Cliven Bundy's Ranch Is Far From Over" . Newsweek.
Retrieved April 27, 2014 .
16. ^ a b "A rancher's armed battle against the US government is standard libertarian fare" . The Guardian.
Retrieved April 27, 2014 .

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 22 of 33
17. ^ "Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy: "The citizens of America" got my cattle back" . CBS / Associated
Press. April 27, 2014. Retrieved April 27, 2014 .
18. ^ Bundy doesn’t understand Constitution

, Ian Bartrum, Las Vegas Review-Journal, April 27,

2014
19. ^ Henandez, Daniel (April 3, 2014).

"Federal rangers face off against armed protesters in Nevada 'range

war' " . The Guardian. Retrieved May 2, 2014 .
20. ^ "Examining the Sovereign Citizen Movement in the Obama Era" . Politics & Policy . Retrieved May 2
2014.
21. ^ "Sovereign Citizens: A Growing Domestic Threat to Law Enforcement" . FBI. Retrieved May 2,
2014.
22. ^ a b MacNab, JJ. "Context Matters: The Cliven Bundy Standoff -- Part 3" . Forbes. Retrieved May 6,
2014.
23. ^ "I-Team: Political cause growing in Bundy's dispute with BLM" . KLAS-TV Las Vegas. Archived
from the original

on May 7, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2014 .

24. ^ Kavanaugh, Shane Dixon (April 14, 2014).

"American Militias Emboldened by Victory at Bundy

Ranch" . Vocativ . Retrieved April 29, 2014 .
25. ^ "Bundy saga reveals the risk of cozying up to extremists"

. The Washington Post. Retrieved

April 27, 2014 . "The SPLC puts “patriot” groups in a separate category from white supremacists and
others organized around hate. The patriot groups make a constitutional argument to justify antipathy
toward the federal government; this can be seen in the noise about secession, nullification, “state
sovereignty” and the primacy of the 10th Amendment."
26. ^ "Antigovernment 'Patriots' Gather Near Scene of Nevada Rancher's Dispute Over Cattle Grazing
16
1, 20
Rights" . SPL . Retrieved April 27, 2014 .
ber 3
cto
on O
27. ^ "Cliven Bundy drops Republican affiliation" ived . Associated Press. Retrieved May 27, 2014 .
h
arc
275
28. ^ a b O'Neill, Alan (April 6, 2014).72
16- "Rancher in land dispute is a bully, not a hero" . Las Vegas Sun.
o.
L, N
Archived from the C-NV
on April 15, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2014 . "I served as superintendent of
D original
v. US
the Lake Mead National Recreation Area for the National Park Service from 1987 to 2000. In 1993, we
undy
in B
cited
reduced the number of cows that could be grazed on the Bunkerville allotment to 150 because of the
emergency listing of the desert tortoise as an endangered species ... I was one of those public officials who
were told to back off at one point because of concern for violence."
29. ^ a b c Brean, Henry (May 10, 2014).

"BLM's next move against Bundy not a matter of if, but when,

former officials say" . Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original

on May 13, 2015.

Retrieved May 13, 2014 . "O’Neill has his own history with Clark County’s most well-known rancher. In
1996, in the midst of O’Neill’s 13-year stint as superintendent for Lake Mead National Recreation Area,
the National Park Service made plans to remove cattle roaming illegally at the northern end of the park. He
said the operation was called off at the last minute amid veiled threats similar to those made against
government workers last month. 'We were ready to go. The U.S. attorney’s office told us to back off. We
backed off.'"
30. ^ "Rangelands/Grazing"

. Bureau of Land Management

. Retrieved April 15, 2014 .

31. ^ 43 U.S. Code §§ 315-316o (P.L. 73-482)
32. ^ a b c d e "United States v Bundy"

(PDF). United States District Court for the District of Nevada.

October 9, 2013.
33. ^ Knightly, Arnold M. (April 11, 2014). "Cliven Bundy supporters bring cattle roundup protest to
Las Vegas police headquarters"

. Las Vegas Review-Journal.

34. ^ "Trespassing Cattle Set Stage for Federal Land Showdown"
35. ^

abc

. KOLO.

"United States of America v. Bundy - Document 35 - Court Description: ORDER Granting 18

Motion for Summary Judgment. Denying as moot 28 Motion to Dismiss. Signed by Judge Lloyd D.
George on 7/9/2013." . Justia. July 9, 2013.

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 23 of 33
36. ^ Kanigher, Steve (April 22, 2014).

"An abbreviated look at rancher Cliven Bundy's family history" .

Las Vegas: KLAS-TV. Retrieved April 23, 2014 .
37. ^ "Debunking false claims of Bundy's defenders"

. Las Vegas Sun. April 27, 2014. Retrieved April 2

2014.
38. ^ a b c d Bureau of Land Management.
Cattle Impoundment"

"Environmental Assessment Temporary Land Closure Corrals an

(PDF). Retrieved April 13, 2014 .

39. ^ a b Brean, Henry (April 11, 2014).

"Good progress in cattle roundup to decelerate" . Las Vegas

Review-Journal. Retrieved April 13, 2014 .
40. ^ "Cattle Trespass Impacts"

(PDF). Bureau of Land Management. Retrieved February 19, 2016 .

41. ^ "Dry Lake Solar Energy Zone (SEZ) Solar Regional Mitigation Planning Project" . Bureau of Land
Management. Retrieved April 24, 2014 .
42. ^ "Virgin River Program"
43. ^

abc

. Bureau of Land Management

. Retrieved April 24, 2014 .

Notice of Temporary Closure on Public Lands in the Gold Butte, Mormon Mesa, and

Bunkerville Flats Areas in the Northeastern Portion of Clark County, NV, 79 FR 17178

(March

27, 2014).
44. ^ Dobner, Jennifer (April 14, 2014).

"Rancher's son says force was necessary to stop cattle seizure" .
on April 15, 2014 . Retrieved May 16, 2014 . "The Clark County

Reuters. Archived from the original

sheriff Doug Gillespie had delivered a bureau offer to leave, but keep the cows, and then helped negotiate
the eventual end to the standoff, Bundy said."
45. ^ "N+114°14'03.6"W/@36.768903,-114.234328,13

Free Speech A I–15 and Exit 112 for Riverside

(Map). Google Maps. Retrieved April 30, 2014 .
46. ^ Free Speech B State Route 170 and White Rock Road (Map).6
1 Google Maps. Retrieved
1, 20
ber 3
April 30, 2014 .
Octo
d on
hive
47. ^ "N+114°11'18.6"W/@36.769903,-114.188486,13
Media area I–15 and Toquap Wash (Map).
arc
2275
-72014 .
Google Maps. Retrieved April 16
. 30,
, No
-NVL in disputed roundup"
48. ^ "BLM says USDC died
6 cattle
. Newspaper. Las Vegas Sun. 22 April 2014. Retriev
v.
undy 2016 .
18 February
in B
cited
49. ^ Ben Botkin; Keith Rogers (April 17, 2014). "BLM: 2 bulls euthanized during Cliven Bundy cattle
roundup"
50. ^

ab

. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved April 23, 2014 .

CBS, News (April 14, 2014).

"Nevada rancher standoff turns on a states' rights debate" . CBS

News. Retrieved April 15, 2014 .
51. ^ Donahue, Mike (March 24, 2014).

"Bundy declares 'range war', BLM to impound embattled rancher's

cattle" . Desert Valley Times. Retrieved April 16, 2014 .
52. ^ a b c d e f Daniel Hernandez, Joseph Langdon and (April 13, 2014). "Federal rangers face off against
armed protesters in Nevada range war" . The Guardian. Retrieved April 14, 2014 .
53. ^ a b Weast, Burton (April 3, 2014).

"Ryan Bundy tells BTAB his family will protect its cattle from

seizure" . Mesquite Local News. Retrieved May 21, 2014 . "'If they are going to be out stealing our
property, we will protect our property,' he said. He also said that he heard the FBI was setting up in the
Overton area, and that BLM was bringing in helicopters and trucks to remove the cattle. 'This is an issue of
state sovereignty, the state owns the land not the federal government.'"
54. ^ "Bunkerville Town Advisory Board: Thursday, March 27, 2014, at 7 P.M."

(PDF). Bunkerville Town

Advisory Board. "Ryan Bundy stated they don’t agree that the Federal Government controls the land the
cattle are on, that should be State land. He said they have used the land since 1887, and they will resist any
attempt by the BLM to take their cattle. Some Board members expressed concern that the land would
remain closed after the cattle were removed"
55. ^ a b March 27, 2014 meeting audio

(WMA stream). March 27, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2014 .

"[1:55:25] Because this is our property, we own the cattle, we own the grazing rights, we own the water
rights, we own the range improvements. We have the right to access it … Because of these ownership

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 24 of 33
rights, we say we will protect our property. Now, we delegate to the county sheriff the authority to protect
our life, liberty, and property. But we don't relinquish that authority ourself. And so if they are going to be
out in the hills stealing our property, we will [pause] put measures of defense. And they have always asked
us, 'What will you do, what will you do?' and our stance has always been we will do whatever it takes.
Open-ended. And because of that, that's why they are scared, because they don't know to what level we
will go to protect, but we will protect ... [2:04:50] This is an issue of state sovereignty. We talked about
what is the United States of America. It's a union of states ... [2:06:00] These large tracts of land that
Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, monuments, parks and, you know, National Parks, et cetera,
et cetera, there is no constitutionality to them at all ... [2:09:20] The stand is the state sovereignty issue. If
this is really not about Cliven Bundy and his cattle on this range, this issue is about is Nevada a state, or is
Nevada still a territory?"
56. ^ Jennifer Dobner (April 12, 2014).
off"
57. ^

"U.S. agency ends Nevada cattle roundup, releases herd after stand-

. Reuters.

abc

"Nevada officials blast feds over treatment of cattle rancher Cliven Bundy" . Fox News Channel.

April 10, 2014.
58. ^ Goldstein, Sasha.

"Nevada rancher in tense standoff with federal government over cattle on rural public

lands" . Daily News. New York . Retrieved April 11, 2014 .
59. ^ Niraj Chokshi (April 9, 2014). "The federal government moved some cows and Nevada's governor isn't
happy about it" . The Washington Post.
60. ^ Brean, Henry (April 10, 2014).

"Bundy vs. BLM: Interest in cattle dispute widens" . Las Vegas

Review-Journal. Retrieved April 14, 2014 .
61. ^ Martinez, Michael (April 10, 2014).

"Showdown on the range: Nevada rancher, feds face off over cattle
16
1, 20
grazing rights" . CNN . Retrieved April 10, 2014 . "In response, federal officials are allowing the
ber 3
to
n Oc
protesters to gather on public lands as long as hiveddon't impede the roundup, said Lueders, the BLM's
they o
arc
2275
director in Nevada."
16-7
.
, No
62. ^ "Out-of-state groups VL in to stand with Nevada rancher in battle with feds over civil rights" . Fox
DC-N ride
. US
Newsundy v Retrieved April 11, 2014 .
Channel.
nB
i
cited
63. ^ a b c Ralph Ellis; Michael Martinez (April 12, 2014). "Feds end roundup, release cattle after tense
Nevada showdown" . CNN . Retrieved April 12, 2014 .
64. ^ Joi O'Donoghue, Amy (June 18, 2014).
Deseret News. Utah. Archived

"Frustrated Utah lawmakers vent to BLM, Forest Service" .

from the original on April 4, 2015 . Retrieved April 4, 2015 .

65. ^ a b "Sheriff: FBI is investigating threats made to law enforcement during Bundy showdown" . Las
Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved May 9, 2014 .
66. ^ a b c Knapp, George (April 30, 2014).

"I-Team: Police faced possible 'bloodbath' at Bundy protest" .

KLAS-TV 8 News Now. Archived from the original

on May 15, 2014 . Retrieved May 15, 2014 . "'I

was a scary point in itself. They were in my face yelling profanities and pointing weapons. The Bundy son
himself, that I was negotiating with, Dave, he did not do that, but all the associated people around him did
do that,' Lombardo said ... Metro pointedly did not allow officers to put on helmets or protective gear for
fear it might be seen as a provocation. At the urging of Cliven Bundy, the crowd moved toward the BLM
compound. Rhetoric grew more heated, and guns were pointed at officers."
67. ^ BLASKY, MIKE (July 3, 2014). "Sheriff: Cliven Bundy should be held accountable for crossing the
line" . Las Vegas Review-Journal. Las Vegas, NV . Retrieved April 4, 2014 .
68. ^ a b c Tom Ragan and, Annalise Porter (April 12, 2014).
block southbound I-15"

. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved April 14, 2014 .

69. ^ a b c Turner, Christie (April 11, 2014).
roundup"
70. ^

ab

"BLM releases Bundy cattle after protesters

"Rancher vs BLM: a 20-year standoff ends with tense

. Retrieved May 6, 2014 .

Urquhart, Jim (April 23, 2014).

"Nevada showdown"

. Reuters. Archived from the original

May 15, 2014. Retrieved May 16, 2014 . "Then I heard the words, 'I’ve got a clear shot at four of them,'

on

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 25 of 33
and to my right found one of the men pointing his weapon in the direction of the BLM. For me, time had
stopped. 'I’m ready to pull the trigger if fired upon,' said another man on the bridge. That was what other
Bundy supporters said too – they wouldn’t shoot first, but they would return fire."
71. ^ Turner, Christi. "Rancher vs BLM: a 20-year standoff ends with tense roundup" . High Country News
Retrieved April 12, 2014 .
72. ^ Itkowitz, Kolby (April 8, 2014). "Senate confirms Neil Kornze as BLM director" . The Washington
Post. Retrieved April 29, 2014 .
73. ^ Cattle Gather Operation Concluded
74. ^

abcd

, Bureau of Land Management, April 12, 2014

"Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy inspects cattle for damage by feds" . CBS News. April 15,

2014.
75. ^ "Sheriff urged to clamp down on armed militiamen around Bundy ranch" . Las Vegas Sun . Retrieved
May 1, 2014 .
76. ^ a b Baca, Nathan (April 15, 2014).

"I-Team: Political cause growing in Bundy's dispute with BLM" .

News Now Las Vegas. Retrieved May 14, 2014 . "After Sheriff Gillespie announced the BLM would
leave Bunkerville, Cliven Bundy looked at the sheriff and delivered his new ultimatum. 'Disarm the park
service at Lake Mead and Red Rock park and all other parks where the federal government claims they
have jurisdiction over,' Bundy said, 'We want those arms delivered right here under these flags in one
hour.'"
77. ^ McNab, JJ (May 9, 2014).

"Cliven Bundy's Son Had Run-In With Park Service Two Decades Ago" .

Forbes. Archived from the original

on May 13, 2014. "Cliven Bundy’s April 12, 2014 demand that th

County Sheriff immediately demolish the entrances of National Parks located in Nevada ... 'Take your
county bulldozers … er … loaders and tear down that entrance places where they ticket us and where they
6
, 201
injure us and make us citizens pay their fees. You get yourtober 31
county equipment out there and tear those
Oc
d on
things down this morning.'"
hive
5 arc
78. ^ a b Kopan, Tal (April 14, 2014).-7227
16 "Cliven Bundy to sheriffs: 'Disarm' the Bureau of Land
o.
VL, N
Management" . Politico. Archived from the original
on April 20, 2014 . Retrieved May 14, 2014 . "
DC-N
v US
yto.talk to one person in each county across the United States, and here’s what I want to say:
only want
nd
in Bu
cited
County sheriffs, disarm U.S. bureaucracy. County sheriffs, disarm U.S. bureaucrats,' Bundy said on Glenn
Beck’s radio show on TheBlaze on Monday ... 'My Clark County sheriff, Doug Gillespie, didn’t finish his
job,' Bundy said. 'What the mandate from we the people was, Saturday was to disarm the park service and
BLM.'"
79. ^ a b Thompson, Catherine (April 15, 2014).
Points Memo. Archived from the original

"Harry Reid: Bundy Ranch Standoff 'Not Over' " . Talkin
on April 19, 2014 . Retrieved May 14, 2014 . "'I don’t have

response for Harry Reid, but I have a response for every county sheriff across the United States,' Bundy
told host Sean Hannity. 'Disarm the federal bureaucrats.'"
80. ^ Sean Hannity (host) and Cliven Bundy (interviewee) (April 14, 2014). Hannity

(mp3) (Audio

recording). Fox News Channel. Event occurs at Statement appears at 18:23. Retrieved May 15, 2014 .
"The demand on the sheriff was de-arm the Park Service rangers, and de-arm Red Rock rangers — that's
two parks very close to the Lake Mead area. And then the demand was, tear down the toll booth stacks."
81. ^ "Nevada Rancher's Son: Harry Reid 'Needs To Be Kicked Out Of Office' " . CBS Las Vegas . Retrieve
May 15, 2014 .
82. ^ a b c Enders, Caty (April 25, 2014).
original

"Life at The Bundy Ranch, Uncensored" . Archived from the

on May 17, 2014 . Retrieved May 17, 2014 . "They failed, for example, to follow his instruction

to tear down the toll booths at Lake Mead and disarm the Park Service. 'The message I gave to you all was
a revelation that I received. And yet not one of you can seem to even quote it.' ... 'It come to my mind real
plain — the good Lord said, "Bundy, it’s not your job, it’s THEIR job." So we come back over here and
heard that they had brought some cattle back. So I want you to understand,' he said. 'This is not my job, it’s
YOUR job. This morning, I said a prayer, and this is what I received. I heard a voice say, "Sheriff

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 26 of 33
Gillespie, your work is not done. Every sheriff across the United States, take the guns away from the
United States bureaucrats."' Lots of clapping for this."
83. ^ a b Glionna, John M.; Simon, Richard (April 24, 2014).

"At scene of Nevada ranch standoff, 'citizen

soldiers' are on guard" . Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 13, 2014 . "Since the roundup ended, he
said he has refused to even open five certified letters from the BLM. 'I've challenged the federal
government's authority,' he said. 'That's why they want to kill Cliven Bundy.'"
84. ^ Botkin, Ben (April 16, 2014). "BLM tries to contact Cliven Bundy, but the rancher won't take the
message" . Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved May 13, 2014 . "The Bureau of Land Management
has tried to contact Cliven Bundy ever since the federal agency released the rancher’s cattle Saturday
while facing a horde of protesters, but Bundy hasn’t opened any of the written messages. His son, Ammon
Bundy, said four certified letters from the BLM arrived at the ranch Tuesday. So far, the 67-year-old
Bunkerville resident has chosen not to open the envelopes."
85. ^ Botkin, Ben (April 21, 2014). "BLM confirms six Bundy cattle died in roundup" . Las Vegas
Review-Journal. Retrieved May 13, 2014 . "The BLM last week sent four certified letters to Cliven
Bundy, which he hadn’t opened last week. Leff said the letters 'include public sale notices of the
impounded cattle.' 'These notices provide Mr. Bundy the opportunity to buy back the gathered cattle,
determined to be his,' Leff said in a statement. 'These notices do not absolve Mr. Bundy from his trespass
fees for grazing cattle on public lands without a permit.' Leff didn’t answer follow-up questions from the
Review-Journal about why the agency sent notices to Bundy to buy back cattle that had been returned to
him."
86. ^ "Cliven Bundy's Family Takes Grazing Fight to Sheriff"

. Associated Press. May 2, 2014. Retrieved

May 2, 2014 .

6
, 201
87. ^ "Bundy family, supporters file criminal complaints againstbBLM" . ABC13 News . Retrieved May 2,
er 31
Octo
d on
2014.
hive
5 arc
88. ^ a b Treanor, John (June 3, 2014). 7227
"Bundy poses questions for candidates on local radio station" . New
16No.
3 HD. Retrieved JuneNVL2014 .
7, ,
DCv. US
89. ^ Rogers,yKeith (April 18, 2014). "Bundy supporters party, welcome 'domestic terrorist' label" . Las
nd
n Bu
i
cited
Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original
on May 12, 2014 . Retrieved May 16, 2014 . "H

made the statement before a “Patriot Party” that started at 5 p.m. with music by Madison Rising and Ron
Keel, who sang with Black Sabbath briefly in 1984. A party atmosphere among a few hundred people
grew as more supporters trickled in. Some people were cooling off in the river while dozens of armed
militia members wearing camouflaged fatigues patrolled in and around the area."
90. ^ Craig, Huber. "NV lawmaker presses sheriff toprobe Bundy militiamen" . Fox5Vegas-KVVU .
Retrieved April 30, 2014 .
91. ^ Horsford, Steven. "Horsford Urges Sheriff Gillespie To Investigate Armed Militia Presence In
Bunkerville" . Rep Horsford press release. Retrieved April 30, 2014 .
92. ^ a b Ritter, Ken (May 1, 2014).

"Neighbors grow weary of 'militia' remaining with Nevada cattle rancher

in federal land dispute" . 'Associated Press, appearing in the Minneapolis' StarTribune. Retrieved
May 19, 2014 . "Bundy acknowledged creating a stir when he and his family showed up at the Mormon
church with armed bodyguards for Easter Sunday services. 'The militia have been going with me
everywhere,' Bundy said Tuesday. 'When I got to church, I said, "Leave your weapons in the car." They
did. I guess there could have been weapons in the parking lot, but there were no weapons in the church
house.' Bundy denies that militia members set up checkpoints on public property. He said armed guards do
stop and screen visitors at the gate to his ranch."
93. ^ Rozyla, Lauren (April 17, 2014).

"Cliven Bundy snubs letters from BLM" . KLAS-TV 8 News Now

Retrieved May 16, 2014 . "Supporters say they're waiting for the feds to react. Armed protesters continue
to surround the Bundy ranch and are even blocking a county road. Some of the supporters attempted
Thursday to keep a Channel 8 news crew from entering the area, despite it being a public road. 'You're

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 27 of 33
trying to start trouble and you're standing with that camera in my face,' one protester said. The armed men
say they'll be at the site for weeks to come to defend the Bundy family."
94. ^ Knapp, George (April 30, 2014).

"I-Team: Police say Bundy ranch protesters not off the hook" .

KLAS-TV 8 News Now. Retrieved May 16, 2014 . "They were equally hostile to journalists covering the
story. Pistol-packing militia men have blocked 8 News NOW's access to public roads. Some poured lighter
fluid around our news vehicle while others got physical."
95. ^ Feldman, Josh (April 30, 2014).
Mediaite. Archived from the original

"Bundy Supporter Warns Reid: 'You Want Your Balls Ripped Off'?"
on May 3, 2014 . Retrieved May 16, 2014 . "Vanderboegh

presented an award 'for incitement to civil war' in Reid’s honor and warned the senator, 'Don’t poke the
wolverine with a sharp stick, Harry, unless you want your balls ripped off.'"
96. ^ a b c Savan, Leslie (May 2, 2014).
Archived from the original

"Why Is the Right Obsessed With Castration?" . The Nation.

on May 16, 2014. Retrieved May 16, 2014 . "'All over this country, we are

still staring civil war in its bloody face,' said Mike Vanderboegh, leader of the militia group Three
Percenters and author of a novel that allegedly inspired a domestic terrorist plot in 2011 ... Bundy’s boys
weren’t the first to thrust the image of torn-off testicles onto the 2014 political stage."
97. ^ Mencimer, Stephanie (November 2, 2011).

"Alleged Waffle House Terror Plotters Inspired By Form

Militia Author" . Mother Jones. Archived from the original

on January 21, 2013

. Retrieved May 1

2014. "The Georgia seniors meeting at Waffle House who were recently apprehended by the FBI for
allegedly plotting to kill millions of Americans to save the Constitution also seem to have had a literary
influence: Mike Vanderboegh, and his novel, Absolved."
98. ^ "Oath Keepers and Three %ers Part of Growing Anti-Government Movement" . Anti-Defamation
League. October 26, 2009. Archived from the original

on February 15, 2014 . Retrieved May 16, 2014
16
1, 20
"The Oath Keepers and Three Percenters, both part of an anti-government extremist movement that has
ber 3
Octo
d on
grown since President Obama took office, promote the idea that the federal government is plotting to take
hive
arc
275
away the rights of American citizens2and must be resisted. The two groups are apparently trying to make
16-7
o.
inroads in the U.S. C-NVL, N
military."
D
US
99. ^ a b c ndy v.
Rosenberg, Paul (May 14, 2014).
" 'You need to die': Cliven Bundy and violent militias still
n Bu
ed i
cit terrorizing Utah, Nevada" . Salon. Archived from the original
on May 16, 2014 . Retrieved May 16
2014. "round the same time, a wild, paranoid rumor spread throughout the camp that Attorney General
Eric Holder was preparing a drone strike against them ... And on May 2, Neiwert reported further on how
the two factions nearly came to a shoot-out."
100. ^ a b David, Neiwart (April 30, 2014). "Back at the Bundy Ranch, It's Oath Keepers vs. Militiamen as
Wild Rumors Fly" . Southern Poverty Law Center. Archived from the original

on May 16, 2014.

Retrieved May 16, 2014 . "When a wild and paranoid rumor began circulating – that Attorney General Eric
Holder was preparing a drone strike on the armed militiamen who gathered at Cliven Bundy’s ranch in
Nevada – it unleashed a rift within the camp ... Apparently, someone within one of the major factions at
the camp, the Oath Keepers, relayed word of the imminent drone attack to his leaders. Oath Keepers
founder Stewart Rhodes responded by pulling his people out of what they called 'the kill zone' (the area the
supposed drone would be striking). When the other militiamen learned that the Oath Keepers had pulled
out, they were outraged ... They openly talk about shooting Rhodes and other Oath Keepers leaders –
because in their view, the Oath Keepers’ actions constituted 'desertion' and 'cowardice' – and describe how
'the whole thing is falling apart over there.' At the end, they vote unanimously to oust the Oath Keepers, or
at least its leadership, from the Bundy Ranch camp."
101. ^ a b David, Neiwart (May 2, 2014).

"Militiamen and Oath Keepers Drew Weapons, Threatened to Kill

Each Other" . Southern Poverty Law Center. Archived from the original

on May 16, 2014. Retrieved

May 16, 2014 . "The situation at the ranch, where armed militiamen and 'Patriots' are camped out, has
deteriorated so badly that competing factions apparently drew weapons on one another during heated
arguments ... The team that primarily circulated the drone-strike rumor – Stewart Rhodes’ Oath Keepers –

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 28 of 33
also began advising people to pull out, which sparked the wrath of militiamen. Those militiamen voted to
oust the Oath Keepers, and a couple even spoke of shooting Rhodes and his men in the back, which they
deemed the proper battlefield treatment of 'deserters' ... [RHODES:] 'Guys with hands on their guns
threatening them. That’s why we told them to get out of there. We knew the situation was this close from
being a gunfight, right there inside the camp.' [RHODES:] 'One of our guys from Montana, Rick Delap,
who was there from the beginning — he’s been out there for two weeks in the dirt – the day of this
confrontation, I come to find out he had to draw on somebody.'"
102. ^ Schoenmann, Joe (May 15, 2014).

"Cliven Bundy's supporters seek crowdfunding to sustain militia"

Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved May 16, 2014 .
103. ^ "Official: FBI investigating Bundy Ranch showdown"

. USA Today. May 8, 2014 . Retrieved Ma

2014.
104. ^ "FBI investigating Bundy Ranch showdown, Clark County sheriff's officials say" . Fox News Channel
Retrieved May 9, 2014 .
105. ^ Raju, Manu (April 28, 2014).

"Police investigating Cliven Bundy-related threats to Harry Reid" .

Politico. Retrieved May 2, 2014 .
106. ^ Cynthia Johnston (June 9, 2014).

"Killers of Las Vegas cops harbored anti-government ideology" .

Reuters.
107. ^ a b c Michelle Rindels & Martin Griffith (June 9, 2014).

"Bundy's Son: Las Vegas Shooters Kicked off

Ranch" . Associated Press via ABC News.
108. ^ Michael Pearson; Saeed Ahmed & Kevin Conlon (June 9, 2014). "Source: Possible 'manifesto' found in
Las Vegas shootings" . CNN.
109. ^ Mike Blasky & Colton Lochhead (June 9, 2014).

"Indiana couple1who killed Las Vegas police also ha
6
1, 20
plans to attack courts" . Las Vegas Review-Journal. ctober 3
on O
110. ^ a b "Nevada rancher versus the federal government: Who's in the right?" . Al Jazeera. April 22, 2014.
ived
arch
275
111. ^ "Video Emerges of Vegas Cop6-72 Jerad Miller Speaking at Bundy Ranch" . Mediaite. June 9, 2014.
1 Killer
No.
VL,
112. ^ David Corn; Dana -Liebelson & Asawin Suebsaeng (June 9, 2014). "The Chilling Anti-Government,
DC N
. US
v
Cliven ndy
Bu Bundy-Loving Facebook Posts of the Alleged Las Vegas Shooters" . Mother Jones.
ed in
cit
113. ^ Reid Wilson (June 9, 2014). "Interior Secretary Jewell connects Las Vegas shooting to Bundy ranch"
The Washington Post.
114. ^ Catherine E. Shoichet, Kyung Lah and Ashley Fantz, CNN (June 9, 2014). "Killer Las Vegas couple
posted anti-government views online - CNN" . CNN.
115. ^ "FBI, U.S. attorney statement on end to Malheur Refuge standoff" . USA Today. February 11, 2016

.

Retrieved February 11, 2016 .
116. ^ Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy arrested by FBI in Portland
117. ^ Hurd, Elaine. "Senator Dean Heller on The Bundys and the BLM" . Let's Talk Nevada. Retrieved
25 September

2016 .

118. ^ "Heller says Bundy should pay BLM grazing fees"

. Associated Press. May 1, 2014. Retrieved Ma

2014.
119. ^ a b Steve Benen (April 15, 2014).
120. ^

ab

"Reid says Bundy Ranch standoff 'not over' " .

Pleasance, Chris (April 18, 2014).

"Domestic terrorists. Senator Harry Reid brands Nevada cattle

rancher Cliven Bundy and his supporters enemies of the US" . The Daily Mail, Newspaper, UK.
Retrieved April 19, 2014 .
121. ^ Macneal, Caitlin. "Harry Reid Calls Bundy Supporters 'Domestic Terrorists' " . Talking Points Memo,
TPM Media LLC. Retrieved April 19, 2014 .
122. ^ Editorial: Stewart misses the point on BLM cops
123. ^ Burr, Thomas (April 29, 2014).

, The Salt Lake Tribune, May 1, 2014

"Utah's Stewart: BLM doesn't need a "Swat team"." . Salt Lake

Tribune. Retrieved May 2, 2014 .
124. ^ "Just In: Obama Accused By Congressman Of Illegal Action At Bundy Ranch" .

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 29 of 33
125. ^ Horsford, Stevens

(July 21, 2014). "Rep. Horsford: Nevada burned by the rants of hotheads" . The

Salt Lake Tribune / Washington Post. Retrieved July 24, 2014 .
126. ^ "WATERCOOLER: RANCHER STANDOFF"

. Arizona Central. Retrieved April 27, 2014 .

127. ^ "Republican Legislators Caravan To The Bundy Ranch"

. Tucson Weekly. Retrieved April 27, 2

128. ^ "Tea Party Lawmaker: Nev. Cattle Roundup 'Reminded Me Of Tiananmen Square' " . CBS Las Vegas.
April 11, 2014.
129. ^ Travis Gettys (April 10, 2014).
NV cattle roundup"

"Sean Hannity inflames brewing 'range war' between feds, militia over

.

130. ^ Leah Libresco (January 4, 2016).

"The Armed Oregon Ranchers Who Want Free Land Are Already

Getting A 93 Percent Discount" .
131. ^ EDITORIAL: BLM’s cattle battle ends — for now , Las Vegas Review-Journal, April 16, 2014
132. ^ "Bundy is no victor: Bunkerville rancher defied the rule of law, picking and choosing what he'd
obey" . Las Vegas Sun. April 20, 2014. Archived from the original

on May 15, 2014 . Retrieved

May 16, 2014 .
133. ^ Editorial board: Dismiss Cliven Bundy for what he is -- a guy trying to dodge a bill

, Casper

Star-Tribune, April 28, 2014
134. ^ Weinstein, Adam (May 12, 2014).
Nothing"

"Bundy Ranch's Armed Defenders Seek Welfare to Sit Around Doi

. Gawker. Retrieved May 16, 2014 . "All those guys hanging out cleaning their guns in

Nevada are now begging hard-working Americans to please give them some money ..."
135. ^ Ryan Gorman; Dan Miller; Meghan Keneally; Jessica Jerreat (April 11, 2014). "Federal agents back
down in stand-off with armed cowboys"

. Daily Mail.

16
136. ^ Arnold M. Knightly (April 11, 2014). "Cliven Bundy supporters, bring cattle roundup protest to Las
1 20
ber 3
Octo
Vegas police headquarters" . Las Vegas Review-Journal.
d on
hive
arc
137. ^ Dobson, Jennifer (April 13, 2014).7"Nevada ranching family claims victory as government
22 5
16-7
releases cattle" . Yahoo! o.
News
VL, N
DC-N
138. ^ "ClivenyBundy on Harry Reid: 'I Don't Think There's Any Hope for Him, He Needs to Be Kicked Out of
v. US
nd
n Bu " . Fox News Channel.
i
Office'
cited
139. ^ Donley, Andrew (April 20, 2014). " 'I blame both sides,' Oklahoma militia members join fight against

. KFOR News Channel 4. Retrieved May 19, 2014 .

feds"
140. ^

ab

Price, Bob (April 24, 2014).

"Militia to BLM: 'We Are Prepared to Use Deadly Force' " . Breitbar

News Network. Retrieved May 22, 2014 . "Breitbart Texas inquired if they were prepared to use deadly
force. 'Yes sir,' Shaw responded, 'we are prepared…We certainly hope it doesn’t go that route but, with the
track record of the federal government, it doesn’t look very promising that that’s going to happen.' Shaw
describes some of the scenarios that could bring his militia groups to the point of being forced into firing
on federal agents. In one situation where the government might use rubber bullets against protesters or the
militia, Shaw explained, 'How are we supposed to know that they’re firing rubber bullets when it has been
fired?'"
141. ^ "What Are Rubber Bullets?"

. Salon. October 4, 2000 . Retrieved May 22, 2014 . "Rubber bullets

describe about 75 types of "less than lethal devices" that are designed to deliver a stinging blow that
incapacitates but does not kill or penetrate flesh as do regular metal bullets."
142. ^ Isquith, Elias (April 23, 2014).

"Bill O'Reilly to Cliven Bundy supporter: What makes you different

from Occupy Wall Street?" . Salon. Retrieved May 22, 2014 . "The militia-founding Bundy supporter,
Scott Shaw of Oklahoma, who seemed a bit surprised by the question, answered that Bundy, unlike OWS,
provides America with beef ... ’Reilly granted that Bundy is indeed outpacing the basically defunct OWS
when it comes to beef production, but pushed Shaw, saying, 'But they’re both dissenters. They’re both
dissenting what they feel is an oppressive system. That’s what they have in common.' Shaw said this was
true but that 'the way they go about it is different,' noting that no Bundy supporters have been arrested,
while many OWS protesters were charged by the police for disturbing public order and damaging public

Case: 16-72275, 10/28/2016, ID: 10178079, DktEntry: 12-3, Page 30 of 33
property."
143. ^ a b c d German, Jeff (May 17, 2014).

"Federal judge bans Texan from meddling in rancher-versus-BLM

case" . Las Vegas Review Journal. Retrieved May 19, 2014 .
144. ^ Judgment and Commitment, May 10, 1996, entered May 16, 1996, United States v. Michael J.
Kearns, case no. 5:95-cr-00201-FB-2, U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas (San
Antonio Div.).
145. ^ Michael J. Kearns, inmate # 27170-077, Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Dep't of Justice.
146. ^ Matt Ford (April 14, 2014). "The Irony of Cliven Bundy's Unconstitutional Stand" . Atlantic.
147. ^ Salt Lake City Tribune, newspaper.

"Editorial: Bundy is a lawbreaker, not a hero" . Salt Lake City

Tribune. Retrieved April 15, 2014 .
148. ^ Dobner, Jennifer (April 13, 2014).

"Nevada ranching family claims victory as government releases

cattle" . Reuters . Retrieved April 16, 2014 .
149. ^ a b Hyland, Dallas (April 13, 2014).

"On Kilter: Bundy won, America lost" . St. George News.

Retrieved April 16, 2014 .
150. ^ Sebelius, Steve (April 16, 2014).

"Let's be honest about what Bundy is, and is not" . Las Vegas

Review-Journal. Retrieved April 16, 2014 .
151. ^ "Video: Dann Sisters' Battle to Save Their Cattle Is Stark Contrast to That of Cliven Bundy" . Indian
Country Today Media Network. April 19, 2014 . Retrieved May 20, 2014 . "The federal government’s
treatment of rancher Cliven Bundy, who has invoked land rights in his objection to paying grazing fees for
his cattle, stands in stark contrast to what was done to the Dann sisters and other Indigenous Peoples on
Shoshone territory when they did the same thing on lands that were unquestionably their own."
6
152. ^ "No, Ron Paul, Bundy Ranch Is Not Another Wounded Knee: Page 01of 4" . Indian Country Today
1, 2 3
ber 3
to
Media Network.com.
n Oc
ed o
hivsisters also couldn't beat BLM" . Las Vegas Review153. ^ Smith, John L. (April 24, 2012). "Shoshone
arc
2275
16-7. "Mary and Carrie Dann never received a visit from the camouflage
Journal. Retrieved May , No.
17, 2014
VL
DC-N whether they would have welcomed the support of armed militia ... If rancher
cavalry, and .I’m not sure
v US
ndy
Bundy thinks he has precedence because his family has run cattle in the Gold Butte area since 1877,
n Bu
i
cited
imagine how the Danns felt."

154. ^ Tim Zietlow (April 15, 2014). "I-Team: Political cause growing in Bundy's dispute with BLM" .
Archived from the original

on October 7, 2014.

155. ^ Brad Knickerbrocker (April 13, 2014).

"Nevada range fight revises 'Sagebrush Rebellion' " . The

Christian Science Monitor.
156. ^ "BLM tries to resolve conflict with ranchers"
157. ^ Wiles, Tay (March 7, 2015).

. Associated Press. April 14, 2014.

"An update on Nevada scofflaw Cliven Bundy" . Paonia, CO: High

Country News. Retrieved January 5, 2016 .
158. ^ a b Sneed, Tierney (January 5, 2016).
Showdown?"

"Why Did The Feds Let Cliven Bundy Get Away With His 201

. Talking Points Memo. Retrieved January 5, 2016 .

159. ^ Peralta, Eyder (January 5, 2016).

"As Oregon Situation Unfolds, Here's A Quick Update On Cliven

Bundy" . NPR . Retrieved January 5, 2016 .
160. ^ "Fourteen Additional Defendants Charged For Felony Crimes Related To 2014 Standoff In Nevada" .
US Department of Justice. March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 4, 2016 .
161. ^ "Nevada trial for Cliven Bundy, 18 others set for 2017"

. Oregon Live. Associated Press. April 27,

2016. Retrieved May 1, 2016 .

External links

[edit]

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