Cliven Bundy (center), his sons and a local militiaman were slapped with felony charges after engaging in an armed standoff with federal agents. (Photo by Kevin Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal)
Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and his sons are off the hook after a federal judge in Las Vegas dismissed the criminal charges against them entirely.
U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro dropped the case Monday, Jan. 8, ending the nearly four-year legal battle against Bundy, his sons, Ammom and Ryan, and a self-avowed militiaman named Ryan Payne, NPR reported. The four men drew the ire of the U.S. government after an armed standoff outside their Nevada ranch over cattle-grazing rights.
In her decision, Navarro found that prosecutors had committed “flagrant misconduct” by withholding evidence that might have helped the Bundy’s case. More specifically, she said federal prosecutors failed to disclose info about the presence of snipers around the Bundy Ranch as well as surveillance footage of the standoff between the family and government agents.
Because of the omission, Navarro felt the men couldn’t be granted a fair trial.
“The court finds that the universal sense of justice has been violated,” the judge said Monday before dismissing the charges with prejudice, a move that specifically bars the possibility of bringing a new trial against them, according to the news site.
This is the fourth time federal prosecutors have failed to indict the Bundy men and their ally for their role in the standoff back in 2014. The four were charged with threatening a federal officer, engaging in a conspiracy and carrying and using a firearm, according to The Los Angeles Times, but somehow managed to snag a victory for ranchers like themselves who oppose the government butting on how they manage their land.
Since the 90’s, Cliven Bundy has refused to recognize the government’s leeway over U.S. public lands and hasn’t paid a dime in cattle grazing lease fees, NPR reported. The Nevada man and his boys were armed and ready, as agents with the Bureau of Land Management tried to seize his cattle form those public lands four years ago. The agents retreated after a week-long standoff but eventually arrested the men two years later.
Clive Bundy maintained his stance in the matter as he left the courtroom Monday.
“My defense is a 15-second defense: I graze my cattle only on Clark County, Nev., land and I have no contract with the federal government,” the 71-year-old man said. “This court has no jurisdiction or authority over this matter. And I’ve put up with this court in America as a political prisoner for two years.”
Monday’s decision comes less than a month after Navarro called a mistrial in the case. She later challenged prosecutors to make their case for why she should grant them a new trial, which ultimately ended in defeat.
While the courtroom was packed with Bundy supporters cheering victory this week, there were critics who took to social media to argue that the family’s “get out of jail free” card was the result of good ‘ol white privilege.
“Hey Siri,
Define white privilege.”https://t.co/oskpoc7HZn
— Green Party US 🌻 (@GreenPartyUS) January 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/kayleebyeee/status/950464075947003904
Cliven Bundy is free.
Paul Manafort is on house arrest.
Meek Mill is still in prison.But please tell me how white privilege isn't real. pic.twitter.com/mmyBDLwdy9
— Real Facade (@realfacade1) January 8, 2018
Had a few black farmers occupied federal land pointing guns at federal authorities, they’d all be dead long before a trial. #UnequalJustice #WhiteMilitants Meanwhile, Cliven Bundy becomes another example of white-privilege in law & order
— Karen P. Esham (@momakeen) January 8, 2018
Clive Bundy and his sons should have been shot on site when they threatened law enforcement, but no, since they are white, they get to occupy a historical site and still get charges dropped. But yes, we need to drop identity politics. Fuck white privilege
— 🏳️🌈Survivorfan🏳️🌈 (@TheRealTJM1979) January 9, 2018
https://twitter.com/JennyBDelToro/status/950448529289437185
