Monday, February 13, 2017

Openings end in Bundy standoff trial in Las Vegas

Opening statements are done and testimony begins Monday for six defendants accused of conspiracy and illegally wielding weapons to block a federal roundup of states' rights advocate Cliven Bundy's cows in April 2014. A prosecutor on Thursday showed photos of each of the six with a rifle, and cast them as having answered Bundy's call to "do whatever it takes" to prevent federal agents from confiscating his cattle. Defense lawyers for six men accused of illegally arming themselves in a standoff with federal agents over a roundup of rancher Cliven Bundy's cows say their clients were simply standing up for their beliefs. The group went on trial in federal court in Las Vegas on Thursday. Prosecutors say they brought weapons from Idaho, Arizona and Oklahoma to mount a massive armed assault against federal officers in Nevada. Defendant Todd Engel is serving as his own attorney. He told jurors that he never threatened agents and couldn't conspire with anyone because he arrived in Nevada hours before the standoff...more

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