Ammon Bundy: Oregon refuge ‘belongs to the people’

Jennifer Williams, who owns a small ranch outside of Burns, said she arrived at the demonstrations to send a message that the standoff supporters don’t represent the voice of the community outside the Harney County Courthouse in Burns, Monday.

In a statement Tuesday, Harney County said it was responding to demands from the Pacific Patriots Network, which has organized rallies in support of the occupation at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

No new charges have been added, however, the four people still occupying the Malheur Wildlife Refuge have now been added to the group being charged.

Group leader Ammon Bundy and others remain behind bars following arrests.

Ammon Bundy and his followers have been indicted by a federal grand jury, prosecutors announced in court Wednesday.

Andrew Kohlmetz, an attorney for arrested protester Jason Patrick, referred to the holdouts as “four idiots” and said their stance is at odds with his client’s aims and needs.

The indictment says two conspirators traveled to the area in October to warn the local sheriff of “extreme civil unrest” if certain demands weren’t met.

The standoff at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in eastern OR began January 2 as a protest over federal land policy.

Federal authorities fear those tensions could pop up elsewhere.

Finicum died during a January 26 confrontation with Federal Bureau of Investigation agents and OR state troopers on a remote road.

Jon Eric Ritzheimer of Peoria, Arizona, was a vocal presence in the occupation in OR before leaving to visit his family on January 25.

All the arrested men faced federal felony charges of conspiracy to impede officials in their official duties through use of force, intimidation or threats.

Bundy’s attorney has said Bundy didn’t recognize Fry’s name and that he wasn’t a core member of the group. He said he respected the judge’s authority and would be back for all court proceedings.

Unlike his son, Cliven Bundy has not called for the last occupiers to leave.

The last holdouts gave an interview Monday with an Internet radio show. Bundy wants to be allowed to return home to Idaho with a Global Positioning System monitoring device and orders that he not leave the state except for court appearances. Bundy’s relatives say the shooting was not justified.

Another court hearing in the case is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon.

While Bundy has asked the four holdouts to go home, his father insists the occupation is legitimate.