Federal judge drops charges against rancher Cliven Bundy

A federal judge dismissed Monday all charges against Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy and three other men, including two of his sons, in a high-profile case stemming from a standoff with government agents.

U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro had declared a mistrial in December. That was a sign that she might dismiss the case outright against the 71-year-old and his sons Ryan and Ammon Bundy. Montana militia commander Ryan Payne was also freed.

At that time, Navarro called out the prosecution for “willful” violations of due process rights of defendants, including failing to properly turn over evidence to their lawyer.

But she gave the government a chance to submit written documents opposing dismissal of all charges.

The tense 2014 armed standoff outside Bunkerville, about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas, halted the Bureau of Land Management roundup of Bundy cattle from public land including what is now Gold Butte National Monument.

About three dozen heavily armed federal agents guarding corrals in a dry riverbed faced hundreds of flag-waving men, women and children calling for the release of some 400 cows.

In this April 12, 2014, file photo, the Bundy family and their supporters gather together under the Interstate 15 highway overpass just outside of Bunkerville, Nev., in order to confront the Bureau of Land Management and demand the release of their impounded cattle. A federal agent testified in Las Vegas, Nev., Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017, that he saw a “sniper” on a freeway overpass pointing a military-style weapon at him while a crowd of protesters gathered in a dry river bed calling for the government to release Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy’s cattle. (AP Photo)

The cattle had been rounded up under court orders issued over Bundy letting his herd graze for 20 years without paying government
fees.

Federal agents left the scene after they were outnumbered and outgunned. No shots were fired.

Several gunmen among the protesters who had assault-style rifles were acquitted of criminal charges in a pair of trials last year.

Ryan and Ammon Bundy also were acquitted of federal criminal charges in Oregon after an armed occupation in early 2016 of a national wildlife refuge to demand the government turn over public land to local control.

The elder Bundy had remained in jail after the mistrial was declared. He had refused a stipulation that he be under house arrest if he was released.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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