Trump pardons ranchers in case that inspired 2016 occupation of national wildlife refuge in Oregon

[MBS]

19. Here's an article from Oregon State U radio

A little more history and background to get you even more angry.
This is a completely unjustified, unethical, irresponsible, and - yes - deplorable action.


He and his cronies seem determined to destroy our entire country: not only our democracy and our people, but also our natural heritage.

http://radio.wosu.org/post/president-trump-pardons-ranchers-dwight-and-steven-hammond-over-arson#stream/0

Audio and text at the link.
An excerpt of the text:

As NPR's Colin Dwyer wrote in 2016:

"The seeds of the current situation were sown in 2001 and 2006. In both those years, the U.S. government said the Hammonds set fires that spread onto land managed by the [Bureau of Land Management]. The 2001 blaze burned 139 acres of public land, according to court documents; the 2006 fire — for which only Steven was convicted — burned additional acre of public land."

Here's how the Justice Department described Steven Hammond's actions after he was resentenced in 2015:

"Witnesses at trial, including a relative of the Hammonds, testified the arson occurred shortly after Steven Hammond and his hunting party illegally slaughtered several deer on BLM property. Jurors were told that Steven Hammond handed out 'Strike Anywhere' matches with instructions that they be lit and dropped on the ground because they were going to 'light up the whole country on fire.' One witness testified that he barely escaped the eight to ten foot high flames caused by the arson."

These despicable criminals should not be allowed to roam free in society.