AG Sessions: ‘I’m not taking sides’ in Bundy case

U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions made a brief reference to the ongoing Bunkerville standoff trial Wednesday when he offered praise to the lead prosecutor, but he declined to take a side in the case that his Justice Department is prosecuting. “I’ve got to tell you, it’s impressive when you have a tough case, a controversial case, and you’ve got the top guy leading the battle, going to court, standing up and defending the office and the principles of the law,” Sessions said of Nevada Acting U.S. Attorney Steven Myhre. “I’m not taking sides or commenting on the case,” Sessions said. “Just want to say that leadership requires, a lot of times, our people to step up and be accountable.” Sessions’ comments — and his explicit unwillingness to take a side — were significant because supporters of rancher Cliven Bundy previously have signaled that they see a potential ally in the Trump administration. That was evident in the throngs of Bundy supporters who rallied outside the U.S. attorney’s office when Sessions gave his remarks Wednesday. The supporters held signs supporting both Bundy and President Donald Trump. They called for the release of more than a dozen defendants who were arrested in the case. Sessions’ comments “were a victory for us,” said supporter Ashley Jones, a producer for radio show host Pete Santilli. Santili, a Bundy ally, is incarcerated pending trial in the case. Meanwhile, Roger Stone — the longtime on-and-off adviser to Trump — is scheduled to speak at a pro-Bundy rally in Las Vegas this weekend to raise money for the rancher’s legal defense fund...more