REMINDER: Do not gloat, advocate death, advocate other criminal activities, etc.
The Occupation of Malheur has ended with no further bloodshed. We now move into the process of cleanup and legal battles.
Recent news:
In his first time in court, Cliven requested a court-appointed attorney. The Judge has refused to do so until he can provide financial paperwork proving he cannot afford one, stating "
"The court only appoints counsel for those who can't afford an attorney."Seems to me, with the million he owes in back payments, he should have plenty of change lying around.
Nine additional indictments have been released. Seven are public, and two additional names on the list have been censored. At least two are already in custody. The charges are the same as those that the prior group was initially indicted on, but while those folks are likely to face increasing charges as the FBI and others investigate the refuge (see below), these folks are likely to stick closer to just this initial charge - carrying a maximum sentence of six years. That brings us up to....23 indictments, if I'm counting correctly.
Here's the transcript of the FBI's news conference.
Now, most of you probably want the tl;dr, and that's what I'm here for, right?
>>FBI confirms the Reverend Franklin Graham and Fiore met with those arrested at the checkpoint, as promised.
>>They will arrest anyone who "chooses to travel to Oregon with the intent of engaging in illegal activity" as trials commence, but say no action will be taken against any locals or visitors who merely visited the refuge or donated food/supplies. They're looking for those with "criminal, violent intent" only.
>>The refuge will remain closed to the public as a crime scene for a while as a full investigation takes place. They're tactically clearing all facilities to make sure no one is left hiding or out of contact first, then sending in a joint FBI/OSP/Portland Police/Air National Guard team through all facilities to check for any explosives or booby traps, potentially homemade (reports had come in at several points that there were makeshift bombs at the refuge). Following that, several FBI Evidence Response Team will methodically collect the extensive evidence, physical and digital, of crimes committed. Collection is expected to take a few weeks, while full analysis may take months.
>>Simultaneously, the FBI is deploying it's Art Crime Team to assess the refuge. Said team consists of agents "specially-trained in cultural property investigations" who will be working in cooperation with both the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Burns Paiute Tribe to fully assess and record any damage to artifacts, burial grounds, and other sacred sites. The big chunk there will be a full "archaeological field assessment" to look for violations of either NAGPRA or ARPA. This is expected to take several weeks as well.
>>The BLM will be consulted through the above processes to allow them some access to vital operations, and to manage the return of control of the refuge from the FBI back to the BLM.
>>Bretzing closes with a lot of kind words to the County, thanks, etc. He asks for their patience at the continued federal presence that will remain for likely a couple months, specially gives a shout-out to the Paiutes, and ends with a personal 'thank you' to Sheriff Ward for doing his job in an absolutely exemplary manner.
I would predict alcohol on the latter, though.
