BUNKERVILLE STANDOFF: PROSECUTION CONTINUES CASE, DEFENSE ALLEGES FEDERAL BRIBERY ATTEMPT
"You don't make laws, you make regulations"
Ryan Bundy speaks with BLM agent Robert Shilaikis on March 17, 2014
Bureau of Land Management official Robert Shilaikis testified for the prosecution today in the Bunkerville Standoff case.
Shilaikis testified about a phone conversation he had with Ryan Bundy regarding the government's plans to impound cattle near the Bundy Ranch.
Bundy reminded Shilaikis that the family would oppose the federal government's seizure of their property (cattle) as they had said for the last 20 years doing "whatever it takes".
Its a phrase that has sinister overtones to opponents of the Bundy's.
It is important for the prosecution to create sinister notions of violence against the four defendants.
Meanwhile, the defense says that when Shilaikis and another government official approached Bundy family member Clancy Cox on the grazing land in March 2014 there was a bribery attempt to enlist him as a government informant. Cox is married to one of Cliven Bundy's daughters.
The BLM officials were scouting out the ranch area and they wanted to gauge reaction of Bundy family members to their plans to seize the cattle.
They recorded their conversation with Clancy Cox and another person there. This is something defense lawyers didn't know about before.
The judge ordered the prosecution to turn over the recording after lunch today.
More issues will be dealt with by the judge and lawyers in the morning (Tuesday November 28th) with the jury expected back in the courtroom to hear testimony in the afternoon as the prosecution continues to present its case.
It is important for the prosecution to create sinister notions of violence against the four defendants.
US District Judge Gloria Navarro initially would only allow 10 minutes of that conversation the proescution wanted used and not the whole conversation. She rejected an attempt by Cliven Bundy's attorney Bret Whipple to include the whole 60 minute conversation.
Judge Navarro changed her mind and eventually allowed the jury to hear the entire conversation where Ryan Bundy schooled Mr. Shilaikis about the Constitution and the BLM and the desert tortise, whose "protection" was used to limit the Bundy's grazing rights at the beginning of the dispute with the federal government over 25 years ago.
Bundy family friend Bryan Hyde said in a video posted on Facebook tonight that Ryan Bundy challenged the other BLM official in the conversation, Mr. Johnson, with the notion that he cannot uphold the Constitution when he's destroying it through his work with the BLM. Johnson responded "That hurts".
Meanwhile, the defense says that when Shilaikis and another government official approached Bundy family member Clancy Cox on the grazing land in March 2014 there was a bribery attempt to enlist him as a government informant. Cox is married to one of Cliven Bundy's daughters.
The BLM officials were scouting out the ranch area and they wanted to gauge reaction of Bundy family members to their plans to seize the cattle.
They recorded their conversation with Clancy Cox and another person there. This is something defense lawyers didn't know about before.
The judge ordered the prosecution to turn over the recording after lunch today.
More issues will be dealt with by the judge and lawyers in the morning (Tuesday November 28th) with the jury expected back in the courtroom to hear testimony in the afternoon as the prosecution continues to present its case.
(UPDATED LATE MONDAY, EARLY TUESDAY)
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