BUNKERVILLE STANDOFF: WHY AMMON BUNDY'S LAWYER DECLINED OPENING STATEMENT, REVELATIONS OF SNIPERS AT CLOSED EVIDENCE HEARING, TRIAL CONTINUES IN THE AFTERNOON

Late in the night, "Oregon Live" reporter Maxine Bernstein posted information on her Twitter feed showing the reasoning behind Ammon Bundy's lawyer, Morgan Philpot, declining to make an opening statement based on what happened during Monday's evidence hearing.

The closed evidence hearing when the public was ushered out on Monday involved discussion of what was revealed by the prosecution in the case last weekend under a deadline imposed by US District Judge Gloria Navarro.

"During the the last nine days, from November 3 to November 12, the defense has learned that in support of one wireless camera and the related surveillance, SAC Love employed, dispatched and inserted multiple BLM and NPS officers who were heavily armed with AR-style assault rifles and who used armored vehicles all around the Bundy Ranch home from April 5 thru April 8, 2014.   At the same time the FBI was deploying and utilizing multiple "snipers" in the area and keeping administrative logs of this information while the surveillance camera's live video feed was being transmitted to SAC Love's Incident Command trailer (as well as to two previously undisclosed locations; an FBI Tactical Operations Center ("TOC") and a field office Emergency Operations Center ("EOC")......"

"...Just yesterday prosecutors admitted that the log files exists, and producing it to the defense has revealed that it alone contains multiple, previously undisclosed facts related to the live video feed and observations made by previously undisclosed personnel while watching that feed.   Are these log entries material and helpful to the defense?  In several entries information confirms the existence of FBI snipers stationed at the FOB on Gold Butte Road, the dates and times of these snipers being 'inserted' at specific locations; and other entries that purportedly describe conduct and incidents from April 5 thru 8, 2014 of Ammon Bundy, Ryan Bundy, Harold Bundy, Cliven Bundy and several other previously undisclosed 'surveillants'."

Shades of Ruby Ridge at Bundy Ranch?

This afternoon at 12:30 Las Vegas time, Mary Jo Bagwell of the Bureau of Land Management will continue her testimony.  She is the first government witness in the third Bunkerville Standoff trial.

Today is  the last day of the trial this week.    The trial will resume on Monday.

Ryan Bundy stunned the courtroom with his powerful opening argument yesterday.  He is representing himself.

"Ryan Payne is my hero" he said speaking of his fellow defendant in the trial.   Payne and others came to help the Bundy's when video of the beating of Dave Bundy by federal authorities went viral on the internet.