DIAMOND BAR CATTLE COMPANY

Congressman Steve Pearce/Kit Laney

At Tuesday’s arraignment federal prosecutors upgraded the assault charges to include assault with a deadly weapon.

“I will tell you,” said U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce (R-N.M.), “that we’re pretty disappointed the Justice Department recently decided to upgrade the charges. They’re declaring the reins, the saddle and the spurs that Kit Laney had as being dangerous weapons. I tell you that whole situation, the way that the Forest Service handled that whole problem, still needs deeper investigation.”

After the March arrest, Pearce called for an investigation. “The inspector general is still working on that. We do not have a final report,” he said....