OREGON STANDOFF: AMMON BUNDY REFUTES SUPPORT CLAIM FOR HAMMONDS FROM LOCAL SHERIFF
"My message right now goes to Sheriff Ward of Harney County.....Sheriff David Ward you could have prevented the Hammonds from going to prison. They had to suffer for two and a half years because you would not look at the evidence, you would not look at the facts. The same facts that President Trump looked at and pardoned the Hammonds upon....
You wouldn't look at the abuses and you allowed federal agencies to come, the FBI and other agencies to come and influence you and convince you that we somehow were dangerous and the Hammonds had to suffer for that. If you had done your job, if you would have looked at the evidence and that was all we were asking you to do.
And this could have been prevented and the Hammonds could have saved themselves or you could have saved the Hammonds from going to prison for two and half years which they were there...."
Ammon Bundy Facebook video 7/12/2018
In the days leading up to the Oregon Standoff Ammon Bundy reached out to the sheriff in Harney County, Oregon asking him to act against the Hammonds return to federal prison to serve out five year mandatory terrorism sentences.
Ward distanced himself from a call by the sheriff in the neighboring county, Glenn Palmer of Grant County, for negotiations with the protesters and release of the Hammonds from prison.
"OregonLive" reported earlier this week:
"Ward, who was the face of law enforcement during the 2016 occupation of the wildlife refuge in his county, wrote to the White House that he personally felt the initial sentences and the financial penalties 'covered the debt owed to society'".
Ward tried to portray himself in a more positive light by writing this letter in support of their pardon in contrast to his refusal to support them when Ammon Bundy approached him about the matter.
He also used the letter to claim that "anti-government extremists" exploited the Hammond family.
As I recall Ammon Bundy called the protest one being held in the spirit of 'Love Thy Neighbor' as in the Hammonds. He said it all during the protest and afterwards including his testimony to the jurors who found him not guilty at trial. I should also note that a Hammond relative testified for the defense and Sheriff Ward for the prosecution at that trial.
Today Ammon Bundy responded to Ward's recent comments, along with those from other local officials in Harney County and beyond who offered support for President Trump's pardon, but were unwilling to support the Hammond's in the face of the federal government led by former President Barack Obama.
Regarding the various local officials back in 2016 Bundy noted:
"In the Hammond's case your efforts or your lack of effort was a failure. And you wanted to make an issue out of something that wasn't an issue and not make an issue out of what really was an issue."
He also again expressed gratefulness and thankfulness to God and President Trump:
"I am very grateful and thankful that the Hammonds are home. It does my heart good to see this injustice end and this family back together again. So Thank You President Trump for reviewing truly what was happening to the Hammonds, pardoning them and sending them home.
And I'm thankful for God and for his love towards us for giving us the complete advantage and I'm thankful for all those people out there who supported and helped us and I'm grateful for the Hammonds enduring and suffering to expose a lot of wickedness"
Links below where Facebook video can be found:
(MORE TO COME)
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