Back in January, a more innocent time, a bunch of misguided, chili-scarfing jamokes decided that the ideal way to start the uprising against the political leaders who dictated federal land policy was to occupy the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, which is an obscure bit of federal property out in southeastern Oregon. The occupation lasted a bit over a month, and one man died in a shootout with authorities.
Today, leader Ammon Bundy and six others were acquitted of conspiracy charges by a federal court jury in Portland. Somehow, taking over a federal building, occupying it for 41 days, and treating the park like their own little fiefdom, free from the government’s intrusion and full of guns, did not constitute conspiracy against the government. They’ve been cleared of all charges (including possession charges, which is insane) except for one man, who still faces one count of theft.
The Bundy family’s lawyer, Marcus Mumford, apparently got so heated during the trial that he was tackled and tased by security officers. He’s now in federal custody, while his clients, who mounted an armed defense of federal land, are not.
Congratulations to the Oregon Militia doofuses. I hope you enjoyed your care package.