Updated at 10:29 a.m.
Cliven Bundy faces charges related to his 2014 standoff with the federal government at his ranch in Nevada, according to a report from The Oregonian.
He reportedly faces weapons charges and a conspiracy charge to impede federal officers, the same charge faced by his sons, Ammon and Ryan Bundy, in connection with their takeover of the federal wildlife refuge in Oregon. The few remaining occupiers have apparently agreed to turn themselves in to federal authorities Thursday morning.
The elder Bundy was arrested on Wednesday night at the Portland airport. He had arrived to participate in a protest of his sons’ arrests.
Federal authorities did not list the charges faced by Cliven Bundy on Wednesday night but reportedly plan to released the charges on Thursday morning.
Cliven Bundy will make his first appearance in court on Thursday afternoon, according to Oregon Public Broadcasting.
Cliven Bundy will appear in court in #PDX at 1:30 & charges will be unsealed today, according to the US Attorney for Nevada.
— Amelia Templeton (@ameliaOPB) February 11, 2016
In a post from the Citizens for Constitutional Freedom Support Group shared on the Bundy Ranch Facebook page, Bundy supporters said that Cliven Bundy was arrested for charges related to the 2014 showdown in Nevada. Cliven Bundy never faced any consequences for his armed standoff with the federal government.
“Apparently, he faces federal charges related to his standoff with the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in 2014,” the Facebook post reads. “The charges include a conspiracy charge to interfere with a federal officer — the same charge lodged against two of his sons, Ammon and Ryan, for their role in the Jan. 2 takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Burns. He also faces weapons charges.”
Mike Arnold, the attorney representing Ammon Bundy, was not happy with the timing of Cliven Bundy’s arrest.
“I’m wondering who’s in charge,” Arnold told Oregon Public Broadcasting Wednesday night. “I’m sort of in frustrated disbelief right now that there’s someone in the federal government right now who thought it was a good idea to arrest Cliven Bundy while (Nevada State Rep.) Michele Fiore was negotiating for the stand down at the refuge.”
“If Cliven Bundy can get arrested peacefully without force or violence, then the four remaining at the refuge can feel confident they can walk out unharmed,” he then added.
Why is a state legislator doing the negotiations with armed insurrectionists?
Mike Arnold, the attorney representing Ammon Bundy, was not happy with the timing of Cliven Bundy’s arrest.
The ‘timing’ of the arrest was perfect. The only place on earth he could be guaranteed to be unarmed is an airport. They would have been absolute idiots to miss the opportunity.
Was that snark, Mike Arnold? If it was, I must say that you’re not a very good comedian. You’re not a very good lawyer either.
The following information ought to accompany every article about Bundy from now on:
Bundy claims allegiance to the Nevada constitution, but he’s pig-ignorant of its sections that completely undermine his idiotic assertions. I would wager a big box of money that gun-humping Michelle Fiore is no more conversant with this than Bundy is.
An out of state legislator, at that.