OREGON STANDOFF UPDATE:  FBI AGENT TRIAL IS PUSHED BACK, CONSTITUTIONAL SHERIFF CLEARED BY STATE INVESTIGATION

The FBI agent accused of lying about shooting at LaVoy Finicum's truck' when Finicum was killed on January 26, 2016 will not be tried until May 8th next year.

W. Joseph Astarita's trial date has now been moved back twice.

Meanwhile an investigation into Grant County, Oregon sheriff Glenn Palmer by Oregon's Justice Department has not been able to pin any wrongdoing on him.

The investigation into Palmer began in response to complaints from the 911 call center director and the John Day, Oregon police chief. 

Their complaints came as Palmer came under attack for calling for a negotiated end to the Oregon Standoff protest in January of last year.    Last year Palmer was also up for re-election  and he won re-election.

Glenn Palmer, who had a reputation as a "Constitutional Sheriff", called for talks to end the protest.

Palmer called for the release of ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond, whose jailing as "terrorists" for lighting a backfire to protect their property, triggered the Oregon Standoff.

Palmer's comments triggered a resolution of support from the sheriff's association in Oregon for efforts to suppress the protest which ended up including aggressive and violent actions led by the FBI including the killing of LaVoy Finicum and wounding of Ryan Bundy on January 26, 2016.