Lack of charges in Cliven Bundy standoff poses risk, group says

Federal land managers want criminal charges filed in 35 cases related to the armed standoff between officers and militia members supporting Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy — and delay by prosecutors may be putting other federal officials at risk, an advocacy group charged Tuesday. More than four months ago, the federal Bureau of Land Management referred the cases to Nevada’s U.S. attorney’s office, according to data released by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER).  The group contends the feds’ failure to promptly charge those who pointed high-powered weapons at officers will encourage more defiance of federal authority over public lands, and may even endanger BLM employees in Utah and other Western states, where anti-federal sentiment has run high. "A criminal referral is the toughest option available to a land management agency like BLM, but that action is toothless if the U.S. attorney ignores it," said PEER’s executive director, Jeff Ruch. "BLM cannot do its job without legal support from the Justice Department." Similar concerns have been raised about the absence of citations issued in connection with an illegal ATV ride in Utah’s Recapture Canyon on May 10 led by San Juan County Commissioner Phil Lyman to protest federal "overreach." During the week prior, BLM Utah director Juan Palma had warned that those who violated the law would face legal consequences. Nevada U.S. Attorney Daniel Bogden said in a prepared statement to the Las Vegas Review-Journal on Tuesday that his office does not "sit on criminal referrals from BLM." Adding to PEER’s frustration is the feds’ refusal to release the names of those recommended for prosecution and the specific charges requested. "Cloaking these cases only adds to the impression that this is a stall, not a deliberative pause," Ruch said. "Tolerating flagrant lawbreaking for years is how the present situation festered to fruition." PEER’s assertions are anchored in a database compiled by Syracuse University to track the criminal workloads of various U.S. attorneys offices. PEER intends to follow the outcome of the Recapture Canyon ride, but the database is current only through April 30, according to Ruch. It is not clear whether the BLM has requested that charges be filed against any of the 50 people who rode into the Utah canyon May 10. BLM’s Utah office recently handed the results of its investigation to the U.S. attorney’s office in Salt Lake City, according to BLM spokeswoman Megan Crandall. But her Justice Department counterpart, Melodie Rydalch, declined to comment...more

Could be there's some things they don't want to come out at trial.  Most likely, they don't want what would surely be a messy arrest of Bundy, plus the arrest of a County Commissioner, prior to election day.  December could be an exciting month.