Feds drop charges against Pete Santilli in Malheur case

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Just one day before he was set to stand trial for his role in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge takeover and occupation, prosecutors dropped all Oregon charges against Pete Santilli. The Internet radio host from Cincinnati, who was with the occupiers throughout the takeover, still faces charges in Nevada for his alleged role in the Cliven Bundy case. In a filing on Tuesday, US Attorney Billy J. Williams said prosecutors decided not to pursue charges against Santilli because of “this Court’s pretrial evidentiary rulings excluding evidence against” him. The charges were dismissed without prejudice, which means it is as though the action had never been filed. “It’s been our position since the beginning that Pete had innocent intentions here,” Santilli’s lawyer Tom Coan told KOIN 6 News. “He never encouraged anyone to go out and stay at the refuge.”...more