Oregon standoff: Ammon Bundy chooses to wear jail scrubs in trial

Ammon Bundy surprised the court Thursday when he showed up for trial wearing blue jail scrubs, with a pocket Constitution in left shirt pocket. "Mr. Bundy desires to appear as he is, a political prisoner not free to dress as if presumed innocent,'' attorney J. Morgan Philpot said, reading his client's statement. "He would prefer to drop the facade and appear as the political prisoner he has been made.'' Bundy also bemoaned how he has been "shuffled around in chains," "molested like an animal," and not given the "utensils'' he needs to prepare for trial. U.S. District Judge Anna J. Brown asked Bundy to stand. She inquired whether it was his choice to appear in jail attire, and if anyone took his suit away. "Your honor, I have no comment," he replied. The judge told him she must know if his decision was voluntary. "I have no comment," he repeated. Philpot interjected, "Mr. Bundy feels he really has no choice — that that's been taken from him." The judge allowed Ammon Bundy to remain in the standard jail scrubs — blue shirt over pink T-shirt and blue pants. She did, though, alert jurors to the change. "You are not to draw any inference of any kind from his attire today or any day," Brown said...more