BUNKERVILLE STANDOFF:   CLIVEN BUNDY TELLS JUDGE NAVARRO 'LET'S GET IT DONE' AND TRIAL BEGINS

When asked by the judge if he wanted a one-week delay, Cliven Bundy's short reply was offered.

Defendant Ryan Bundy also opposed a trial delay, but added he would support one if the co-defendants were freed from jail like he was to a halfway house yesterday.

Prosecutors came into court seeking a one week delay while FBI emails from the weeks leading up to the standoff were sought out and reviewed.

Defense attorneys for Ryan Payne and Ammon Bundy asked for a mistrial.

Acting US Attorney Steven Myrhe offered opening arguments in the morning, claiming that the government's behavior was not the issue in the case.    Myhre placed blame at the feet of the four defendants (Cliven Bundy, Ammon Bundy, Ryan Bundy and Ryan Payne).

He said:  "This case is not about protesting.  This case is about instilling fear through the use of violence".    That's a pretty over the top statement about an event where no one was hurt and everyone went home afterwards.

Myhre insisted there were no land rights, First Amendment or Second Amendment arguments to justify the protesters actions, the federal government controls the land 'for everybody'.    It was law and order versus the end of a gun in his opinion.

Myhre admitted today in his opening arguments that armed federal officers,  "snipers" as described by trial observer John Lamb, were in the hills above protestors to protect the federal officers who he claims were threatened.   This information was not admitted at the first two trials.

In one of his videos posted today Lamb said that at one point the prosecution argued that having Cliven Bundy's cows using public land is harmful to the land and the public.

Cliven Bundy's problems began in the 1980's with enforcement of the Endangered Species Act that drove all of his neighbors out of the ranching business.

At one point during the opening arguments for the prosecution, a court clerk approached a juror to nudge her awake.

Early this morning before the opening arguments another one of the 19 men implicated in the Bunkerville Standoff, Micah McGuire, entered a plea deal and pled guilty to impeding federal officers.   He will be sentenced in February and was released today.

Cliven Bundy's defense attorney Bret Whipple laid out the history that led to the protest, noting that over 50 ranchers have been run off their land in Clark County, Nevada and that one remains, Cliven Bundy.

He also said that there was no crime committed during the standoff at the wash on April 12, 2014 because the federal government's impounding operation was over.

Whipple also revealed that undercover FBI agents were among the protestors.

He argued that Cliven Bundy was trying to hold onto water rights by having his cattle on the land.

Ryan Bundy arrived at court this morning in a white limo from his halfway house accommodation after Judge Navarro ordered his release yesterday.

Court observer John Lamb called his mode of transport fitting 'for a hero'.

(MORE TO COME IN A NEW POST WEDNESDAY AM)