OREGON STANDOFF UPDATE: PORTLAND MEDIA OUTLET REPORTS PRESIDENTIAL PARDON CONSIDERED FOR HAMMONDS
Behind the scenes politically connected forces have been working on the matter of a pardon for Oregon ranchers, Dwight and Steven Hammond, who were forced to return to federal prison in January 2016 to serve out mandatory five year prison sentences as terrorists for lighting a backfire to protect their land.
Portland television station KATU has learned that a 'request for clemency has come under review in recent weeks by the office of White House Counsel Don McGahn'. They were told this by Dave Duquette of the group "Protect the Harvest".
It was the plight of the Hammonds that brought Ammon Bundy to Harney County, Oregon to launch the Oregon Standoff and Bundy's efforts have made their case nationally known.
The politically connected forces at work on the pardon are disdaining and distancing themselves from the Bundy's even as they work for the pardon.
The Portland media outlet says that the Oregon Cattlemen's Association Executive Director Jerome Rosa met in April with Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke.
"Zinke told Rosa he would give his blessing to have the Hammonds released."
KATU Portland report 6/6/2018
If a pardon for the Hammond's materializes in the weeks and months ahead, we can thank President Trump but we must also thank those who put the case of the Hammonds on the map in the first place.
Those who brought the case of the Hammonds to the world's attention were those who showed up at the Oregon Standoff protest.
Inspired by Cliven Bundy's concern for the Hammonds, his son Ammon Bundy conceived the idea for the protest and came with his brother Ryan and others including Shawna Cox, Ryan Payne and David Fry and yes, LaVoy Finicum who gave the ultimate sacrifice to let the world know about the Hammonds.
Those people I mentioned and others who joined the protest like Ken Medenbach, Blaine Cooper and Duane Ehmer plus Jake Ryan and others not mentioned. Quite a few of these people I mentioned are jailed right now in connection with the protest after guilty pleas or the rigged second trial.
The protest leaders were acquitted by the jury in the first fairer trial.
The protest leaders were acquitted by the jury in the first fairer trial.
The Oregon Standoff protesters should be thanked profusely for any presidential pardon, if it materializes.
They forced the hand of the political machine in this country to act just like Dr. Martin Luther King and 2400 people (1100 of them children) who were arrested in Birmingham in the spring of 1963 forced the hand of President John F. Kennedy to support civil rights.
Link at top of page.........
Calling the Hammonds "Terrorists" is like calling the Queen Mother a "Strumpet". Hammonds have been in this country for a very, very long time...since the 1800's and I'll bet even earlier since they knew my mother's family and they came over in the 1700's. The people who started that whole idea should be hung by their own petards over a roasting fire. I cannot imagine the damage being called a Terrorist has caused that family...and I'll be no one every is held accountable in the BLM for that...disgusting bit of government work, yes?
ReplyDeleteRegardless of the emotions we express the wrong will continue and it will take the non-violent resolve of Ammon Bundy and the late LaVoy Finicum to stop it.
DeleteEven now Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke wants to help the recreation industry out West and envisions "wildlife bridges" that will slice up the ability of farmers and ranchers out West to operate.
Money talks and the Republicans and Democrats get it from special interests that want the land controlled to their benefit, not the benefit of folks like the Bundy's or Hammonds, etc. etc.
NO VIOLENCE, NO SILENCE..........