Mistrial declared in case against Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy

[DonViejo]

Source: Reuters




DECEMBER 20, 2017 / 1:08 PM / UPDATED 11 MINUTES AGO

John L. Smith

LAS VEGAS (Reuters) - A federal judge on Wednesday declared a mistrial in the criminal case of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, who led a 2014 armed standoff with U.S. government agents in a range-land dispute, and set a new trial date of Feb. 26, 2018.

Bundy, two of his sons and another man had been charged with 15 criminal counts stemming from the confrontation, which galvanized right-wing militia groups challenging federal authority over vast tracts of public lands in the American West.

U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro told federal prosecutors that they had willfully violated evidence rules and failed to turn over pertinent documents to the defense. Navarro had warned prosecutors last week that she might declare a mistrial.

The revolt, against the federal Bureau of Land Management, by Bundy and armed followers was sparked by the court-ordered roundup of Bundy’s cattle in April 2014 after he had refused for two decades to pay fees required to graze his herds on federal property.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nevada-militia/mistrial-declared-in-case-against-nevada-rancher-cliven-bundy-idUSKBN1EE2ED?feedType=RSS&feedName=topNews&utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=Social&__twitter_impression=true

[heaven05]

1. WTGF!!!!!

figures, but he is white being tried in whiteland.....go figure.....

[john657]

2. Well,

when prosecutors fail to turn over evidence to the defense, what did you think would happen?

[Wellstone ruled]

7. Rumblings last week about

the Prosecution not turning over files to the Defense,one thing that raised a Red Flag a couple months back,when the Lead Agent from the BLM was fired. He was the Lead in the.Law Enforcement at Bunkerville.We who followed this case saw the same miss steps as the similiar case in Portland Oregon.

This will fuel the Militia Movement here in Nevada and Utah in a major way. In the last week,noticed huge increase of Militia Flags and Symbols showing up.

[john657]

10. Never understood

the desire to join a "militia", it just seems so dumb to me.

[janx]

12. The desire to feel important!

[snooper2]

29. I never saw this vid of the idiots- that was HILARIOUS thanks LOL

[janx]

30. I know. I've probably watched it ten times!

"Isn't there a BEER I have have over there? One BEER?"

[janx]

11. If that judge rules

"mistrial with prejudice," those guys are going to walk. And that is certain to fuel the movement.

[Wellstone ruled]

14. Hopefully she does not rule Prejudice.

Politics involved here?

[janx]

16. God I hope not.

[atreides1]

25. It's possible

New administration, Trump needs people like the Bundy clan...wouldn't be surprised if Sessions had a little "talk" with the prosecution team, and the main BLM agent involved being fired couldn't be a coincidence, either!!!

[Eliot Rosewater]

32. That is what happened.

[heaven05]

18. just what happened

either it would have been this or something to cast doubt on a tax evader/white nationalist/nazi that has a bill due to the government that I would NEVER be allowed to carry....I owed IRS 1600 bucks, they threatened do detesticularize me if I did not pay...fuck this ....

[john657]

22. LOL!!

I owed IRS 1600 bucks, they threatened do detesticularize me if I did not pay

I know exactly what you mean.

[Hoyt]

3. At best, a jury in this case will hang and the white wing Bundy racists will walk.

[L. Coyote]

4. We have to worry that prosecutors tank the trial on purpose.

[2naSalit]

5. Exactly!

[rockfordfile]

9. that's what it seems

Should have been a slam dunk. But right-wing terrorist walk.

[john657]

13. It may well have been a slam dunk

if the prosecution had turned over all the evidence to the defense.

If these assholes walk, it will be on the prosecutors shoulders.

[NCDem777]

17. And I like what was being called evidence of prejudice by the defense

Boo hoo, a bunch of anarchists threatening shoot government agents enforcing laws that they don't like and claiming that they only have to obey the laws they do, are complaining that the government agents they threatened to shoot talked smack about them, in private communications.

That's not evidence of corruption. That's a day at the office in every police department in the world. Most officers talk shit about criminals they pursue. Especially stupid ones (like drunk yokels thinking they get to shoot government agents). Since the judge lets the Bundys off, then just about every jailbird alive this second from the Federal prisons on down to the county drunk tank needs a review. After all, if the police talked smack about them, they're being prejudiced.

Jailhouse phonecall monitoring? Welcome to jail. They tend to like knowing what you're talking about and you don't get privacy in jail aside from attorney-client privilege. Lesson? Don't do things that get your ass sent to jail. Like threatening to shoot people because the judge didn't do what you wanted and you have a sad.

An arrest tracking wall? That's pretty normal. Most PD's with people the local community wants arrested have one of those.

There's gonna be a Dem President in the future and I sincerely hope they don't make the mistakes of the last two and start putting these anti-society nutcases down. Kent State style. No month-long standoff crap. No arresting them and putting them on trial before a jury of people who agree with their beliefs. Otherwise, these armed lunatics will keep thinking that they can get whatever they want by threatening to gun down LEO's.

[janx]

20. Ever the victims, the Bundys are ALWAYS victims:

Link to tweet

[Paladin]

6. If you're white and wear a cowboy hat out there, you walk. (nt)

[Frustratedlady]

8. What's the cost on this fiasco by now?

Has anyone been convicted? I've lost track.

[john657]

21. Sorry, but I can't get behind this.

Do what a RW admin would do to a LW group doing stupid crap: Kil them. Kent State these motherfuckers. If they hide behind children, too bad. Then offer supporters a one-way ticket to the government and gun law free Somalia. It'll be their own slice of paradise.

I still believe in the rule of law, no matter who it applies to.

[NCDem777]

23. I don't see any other way

The juries will always acquit not because of evidence or lack of it. But because they agree with the militia psychos.

Unless we start drawing lines in the sand, any election is meaningless because militias will grind government to a halt every time someone to left of Ayn Rand is elected.

The Constitution gives the government the right to deal with threats foreign and domestic. And these militias are a domestic threat.

[john657]

24. And the Constitution and the Bill of Rights

gives the accused the right to a jury trial, something I not willing to change.

[janx]

33. I agree with you. n/t

[john657]

35. Thank you.

It never ceases to amaze how many people are willing to shred the Constitution just because they have a different opinion on something or are frustrated with the laws.

[janx]

34. You don't know that the juries will always agree with militia psychos,

do you?

I understand your frustration and wholeheartedly agree with the last sentence.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

19. Did Sessions foul this case up?

[Vinca]

26. There is no justice in this world anymore.

[walkingman]

28. There never was. It was always just an illusion to keep the working class's nose to the grindstone.

I used to think that people would wake up but I've pretty much conceited that it will never happen. White privilege is alive and well. Money talks and everything else is just rhetoric.

[crowman2016]

27. Hopefully karma will bite them on the ass in the form of the Koch Bros. or oil companies...

...either taking over or contaminating their ranch land. A drought would be nice as well.

[janx]

31. Drought never stopped these people before... n/t

[Blue_Tires]

36. Whiteness wins again...