Once again, a jury rules in favor of Bundy supporters

Full title at link: Once again, a jury rules in favor of Bundy supporters in their 2014 standoff with federal agents

For the second time this year, the federal government tried and failed to convict four men who joined the high-profile Bundy family in its 2014 standoff with federal agents in a dispute over grazing fees for cattle.

A Las Vegas jury acquitted two of the four men on trial, Ricky Lovelien and Steven Stewart, on all 10 charges against them.

The jury found the other two defendants, Scott Drexler and Eric Parker, not guilty on most charges, but it could not reach verdicts on four charges against Parker and two charges against Drexler. The government has not said whether it plans to retry them.

Two of the defendants -- Ricky Lovelien and Steven Stewart -- were released last night from the prison where they have been held WITHOUT BAIL for more than a year. The other two defendants, for which the jury was hung on a few counts, were sent to halfway house for the night, and had a 9:00 a.m. detention hearing set for this morning.

I'm proud of these jurors. The despicable judge in this case violated countless rights and did everything she could (legally and otherwise) to deny these men a fair trial, from denying any testimony regarding the bad behavior of the federal agents, to refusing the defendants' witnesses, to even ordering a defendant to not testify for himself! It was and is shameful. And despite every effort by authorities to turn a fair trial into a star chamber, the jurors obviously were not convinced that crimes were committed. No jury nullification needed; the feds failed to prove guilt.

I'm hoping and praying that this bodes well for the upcoming Bundy trial -- but I'm not holding my breath:

Prosecutors characterized the six as the least culpable of 19 co-defendants arrested in early 2016 and charged in the case, including Bundy family members. With the release of Lovelien and Stewart, 17 are still in federal custody.

The current jury deliberated four full days after more than 20 days of testimony. The six men and six women returned no verdicts on four charges against Parker — assault on a federal officer, threatening a federal officer and two related counts of use of a firearm — and also hung on charges of assault on a federal officer and brandishing a firearm against Drexler. Navarro declared a mistrial on those counts.

None of the defendants was found guilty of a key conspiracy charge alleging that they plotted with Bundy family members to form a self-styled militia and prevent the lawful enforcement of multiple court orders to remove Bundy cattle from arid desert rangeland in what is now the Gold Butte National Monument.

Time will tell. Especially if the same judge presides over the upcoming trial. However, perhaps even more enlightening will be the civil trial against the feds for the cold blooded premeditated murder of LaVoy Finicum.

Bring on discovery!!!

a reply to: Boadicea

Too bad it won't bring back Lavoy Finicum ....

a reply to: Boadicea

***

a reply to: Fowlerstoad

Nope... it sure won't.

However, if Mrs. Finicum is cut from the same cloth -- a strong woman who will stand on principle -- and continues to refuse to settle with the feds, and refuses to buckle to their ongoing bullying and intimidation tactics, but insists on her right to a jury trial of her peers, then the discovery process could be a goldmine of information and therefore insight into the total and complete corruption of the various federal agencies -- and agents -- involved... all the whos and hows and whys and wherefores.

From where I'm sitting, she's got nothing to lose. They already took the most valuable thing in her life: her husband and the father of her children.

a reply to: Boadicea

Because a jury pf peers sees thru the BS. The gubment still wins however, the movement was derailed anyway. Arresting the principles involved on trumped up charges, detaining them without charge or quick and speedy trial, pretty much took the steam out of it.

And main street america goes huh, what was that about again? The victors are rewriting the history as fast as they can.

Proves how the government can lie and cheat.

And how bitter and jealous some deep state people are.

a reply to: intrptr

Your point is well taken of course! There is no rest for the wicked... ever...

But no one is invincible. And the bigger they are the harder they fall. They started believing their own publicity and thought that might really does make right. But they forgot that the most dangerous people in the world are those with everything to lose and those with nothing to lose. When folks are bullied and intimidated and have better options, they take them. But the feds took everything from the Finicums and now they have nothing to lose. That makes them very dangerous to the feds -- and the feds know it!

And, ironically enough, the Finicums will have some help from the feds themselves -- BLM misconduct probe may derail Bundy Ranch standoff trial -- including complaints by federal agents of bullying and intimidation from higher-ups, especially in regards to the Inspector General's investigation. This IG report was among the mass of evidence that the judge refused to allow, but I don't think the Finicums will have the same problem in civil court.

a reply to: xuenchen

And -- I'm gonna say it -- DESPERATE!!!

a reply to: Boadicea

More trump winning!

a reply to: agenda51

Nope! Trump gets zero credit here. The good people of the jury get the credit -- and maybe a little to their attorneys... maybe.

Trump did nothing. And his Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, thought this kangaroo court was fine and dandy -- Jeff sessions' Praise of Constitution Crushing Prosecutor -- until he got called out for it, and then it changed to ‘I’m not taking sides’ in Bundy case.

Trump isn't even trying to drain this corner of the swamp.

UPDATE:

Feds Plan to Try Two Bunkerville Defendants for a Third Time on Remaining Charges

Eric Parker and Scott Drexler were released to a halfway house last night with not guilty verdicts on most of their charges and the jury hung on some (four for Parker, two for Drexler).

Today at a detention hearing in Las Vegas an animated and angered Acting US Attorney Stephen Myhre, the lead prosecutor in the case, insisted the men were dangerous and a threat and should remain in custody.

(Get that? "Animated and angered"... at who? The Jury??? Grrrrr...)

But the judge (US District Judge Gloria Navarro) decided after juries failed to convict the men at their first two trials, they will be allowed to go free ahead of the third trial.

With conditions for their release, Parker and Drexler are expected to be freed and allowed to return to their homes in Idaho.

That really surprised me. Not at all what I expected from the judge based on her previous decisions. But good.

Their re-retrial will begin September 25, perhaps/probably pushing the trials for the other defendants -- including the Bundys themselves -- back even farther.

I have lots of questions and lots of speculation and lots of suspicion about the next trials... but I really don't know what to expect at this point. I'm pretty sure the feds don't either. They sure didn't expect this!

a reply to: Boadicea

trump is the leader of the populist movement and thats exactly what this is. Full credit.... eh sure its a stretch but this is a good sign. The populace is empowered and sick and tired of abusive government and corruption. Trump has played a huge role in that. There are a lot of good americans regaining pride in god and country along with a good bit of independence and liberty.

I have always thought the Bundy ranch standoff will go down in history as a turning point in American History when Americans drew a line in the sand and took up arms while the government backed down. always remember that.

it was a wonderful thing to see americans from all around the country travel on their own dime to support americans in trouble from government tyranny.

WACO will not happen again in this country.

Delusional a reply to: Boadicea

a reply to: agenda51

Ahhh... I see what you're saying now. Yes, the people are speaking loud and clear, and have given Trump the chance to lead the way. I hope he's up to the challenge.

And I hope you're right about the people coming together for the Bundys being a turning point... and for the Hammonds in Oregon, for that matter. Unfortunately, the feds had already shamelessly beaten the Hammonds into submission. And they're doing their best to do the same to the Bundys -- and all of us.

Trump needs to address this.

a reply to: HogspitFred

Oh dear... too easy.

a reply to: Boadicea

trump is juggling a lot right now. he is under threat ever day from every direction. he cannot do every job in the administration.

Sessions needs to be fired IMO.

How about pence? What does this guy actually do? Pence has been disappointing me greatly.

MSM is a practical blackout on this.

Illuminati wanted another WACO and american patriots joined together to stop it. it was a beautiful thing to watch unfold when you could find coverage. Historical. Massive fail for harry Reid and he was punished for it.

Bundt ranch standoff is legendary.

a reply to: agenda51

I'm definitely with you on Sessions -- he's gotta go. And I'm not sure exactly what to make of Pence, but I sure don't trust him. He was establishment from the gitgo -- and still is.

We'll see what Trump does going forward...

I wish I could comment more intelligently but I'm typing through yawns! I think it's time for me to get some sleep and start again tomorrow

a reply to: Boadicea

Pence is pretty easy to figure out. There are two options.

1. he is a deep state illuminati mole who is sabotaging trump and will step in if impeached.

2. he is a low energy nothing who is just along for the ride

Look... We didnt just elect Trump... we voted Pence in too. He should be out there fighting for us and supporting this agenda tooth and nail. he should be taking heat off trump as much as possible a working his tail off. instead he is just a part time intro speaker during a rally. he needs to choose a side and get his act together quick. He has zero chance of any support if Trump fails. This is why i wanted Christi or Paul for VP. Heck Cruz or Carson would,have been better. our warrior VP has gone lame duck lately.

I thought we had Race Banon for VP and he has turned into Mr. Rogers. he has been worthless so far. Trump is just going it alone.

Sessions....

all talk, no action. Wheres the warrior. Where is the loyalty to draining the swamp. Why the hell is Soros still getting away with this. soros is operating like Obama is still president. Sessions is operating like obama is still in office too.

If i were trump i would put ben carsen front and center. He is so dang likable and positive it helps any situation. he should be a beacon of hope for any tense situations. everybody loves Ben.



IN fact...how about this.... where are all these so called true conservatives. its a ghost town. paul Ryan preaching gun control. Mitch playing the excuse game and preaching how trump doesnt understand you have to be corrupt to get things done. Mccain.... whatever. Romney.... LOL.

These are past figureheads of conservatives who have gone completely limp and suddenly decided they either dont want to work or just care less.

only one who has stuck to his guns and has shown to be a worker is Rand Paul ( Big surprise).

let me tell you. if i was in public with my kids the only 2 people I would actually introduce my kids to would be trump and paul. the rest are a bunch of weak chumps.

I guess all these chumps are working so hard to get trump impeached they dont have time to actually serve the people who are responsible for supporting them. lets just see how that works out for them.

The first thing that has to be done to get this off the ground, is all defendants have to be acquitted of all charges.
This is job of the American public and so far has been looking very good.

Every acquittal gives the IG and federal investigators more ammunition to investigate and pursue charges of criminal wrong doing inside the BLM.

The clock is running out on Dan Love and his criminal cohorts, its just a matter of time.
But the American people are going to have to stand up and do their part by being responsible citizens and acquitting all of those charged.

The actions of the juries will directly affect the depth and scope of everything that happens behind the scenes.

Buck

a reply to: agenda51

I apologize for the delayed response... things have been pretty hectic for me the last few days!

These are past figureheads of conservatives who have gone completely limp and suddenly decided they either dont want to work or just care less.

I think there's far more to it. For starters, I don't buy the left/right or liberal/conservative or whatever label folks want to slap on it. At some point, there is no real political ideology... just "how can I milk the system for myself???" using that paradigm. For example, Trump running as a Republican and Bernie running as a Democrat, when neither of them really belonged to that party to begin with. But it got them where they wanted to be...

Perhaps more important though is the very real potential for blackmail and extortion, thanks to NSA surveillance and computer chicanery. Take our oh-so-pious VP Pence, for example. No doubt the NSA and God only knows how many other alphabet agencies have found a reason to "unmask" and spy on Pence... now imagine if they found child porn on his computers... in an ideal world, he would be brought to justice. But in this world, that's all someone needs to make him their puppet. Or, maybe he really is as pious and reverent as he seems, but maybe one of his siblings or kids or someone else close to him has skeletons in their closet, and those are being used against Pence. Or, maybe they couldn't find anything on Pence or his loved ones, so they set him up by planting some disgusting kiddie porn on his computer... who is the public going to believe? And the jury???

We also have to consider that it is not only legal (under color of law) to lie to the public, usually for "national security" reasons, but under some circumstances, the (color of) law demands it! There are also non-disclosure clauses and non-disparagement clauses and confidentiality clauses and on and on and on.

When the truth is criminal and lies are legal, the only thing we can know for sure is that we don't anything for sure!