Closing Arguments Begin In The Malheur Refuge Trial - #BundyTeaParty

[struggle4progress]

by Conrad Wilson Follow OPB | Oct. 18, 2016 7:45 a.m. | Portland

Closing arguments begin Tuesday for the seven defendants who occupied the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge earlier this year.

This portion of the trial is the chance for the two sides to explain to the jury what they think the nearly six weeks of evidence presented during the trial means ...

At this point, it’s likely the 12 deliberating jurors will get the case Wednesday ...

http://www.opb.org/news/series/burns-oregon-standoff-bundy-militia-news-updates/oregon-standoff-malheur-trial-bundy-closing-arguments/

[Coyotl]

1. One last opportunity for self-incrimination.

I wish I'd been there to watch Ryan Bundy cross-examine Ammon Bundy.

[struggle4progress]

2. Ammon Bundy's Attorney Begins Closing Arguments

by Conrad Wilson, Amanda Peacher, Bryan M. Vance, and Bradley W. Parks
OPB | Oct. 18, 2016 7:45 a.m.
Updated: Oct. 18, 2016 3:53 p.m. | Portland

... Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Knight attempted to show defendants intended to prevent federal employees from going to work ...

Knight also said no formal agreement was needed to constitute a conspiracy. Quoting Ammon Bundy’s testimony, Knight said occupiers “‘were all there for a unified purpose’” ...

Ammon Bundy’s attorney, Marcus Mumford ... painted Bundy as another victim in a long line of federal overreach. Mumford said it was an “honor” to represent Bundy and that his client has been wrongly accused of conspiracy.

“His problem wasn’t with the employees,” said Mumford, referring to federal workers at the refuge. “His problem was with their employer: the federal government. It won’t respect its limits” ...

http://www.opb.org/news/series/burns-oregon-standoff-bundy-militia-news-updates/oregon-standoff-malheur-trial-bundy-closing-arguments/

[struggle4progress]

3. Prosecutors in trial of Oregon militants describe armed 'fortress'

By Scott Bransford

PORTLAND, Ore. (Reuters) - Anti-government militants who seized a U.S. wildlife center in Oregon earlier this year turned the refuge into a "fortress" as part of a conspiracy to use armed intimidation to press their political beliefs, a federal prosecutor told jurors on Tuesday ...

“They made a choice based on their personal beliefs to overtake somebody’s workplace,” Knight said. “This idea that a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service employee could walk through the door and sit down at their desk is not supported by evidence.”

Knight displayed video showing a group of militants firing off weapons as in a military drill during the occupation.

“It is intimidating to have people who don’t like you take over your office,” Knight said. “It is inherently intimidating as well when those people turn your workplace into a firing range” ...

http://www.metro.us/news/prosecutors-in-trial-of-oregon-militants-describe-armed-fortress/jZzpjr---pcAhVvIbpUclYcIfQWLkkg/

[struggle4progress]

4. Jurors asked to use common sense

By Steven Dubois | Updated: Tue 4:52 PM, Oct 18, 2016

... a federal prosecutor told the jury Tuesday during closing arguments that the case comes down to common sense ...

Assistant U.S. Attorney Ethan Knight says the case is not about Western land policy, the 2014 standoff at Cliven Bundy's Nevada ranch or what Ammon Bundy considered to be an unjust sentence for two local ranchers convicted of arson ...

http://www.kmvt.com/content/news/Jurors-in-Ammon-Bundy-trial-asked-to-use-common-sense-397517651.html