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Cliven Bundy: Case dismissed for Nevada rancher in standoff | Cliven Bundy: Case dismissed for Nevada rancher in standoff |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A court has thrown out charges against a Nevada rancher who was at the centre of a 2014 armed standoff with law enforcement over access to public land. | A court has thrown out charges against a Nevada rancher who was at the centre of a 2014 armed standoff with law enforcement over access to public land. |
Judge Gloria Navarro dismissed the case against Cliven Bundy "with prejudice", meaning it cannot be tried again. | Judge Gloria Navarro dismissed the case against Cliven Bundy "with prejudice", meaning it cannot be tried again. |
She said prosecutors had improperly withheld evidence that could have helped Mr Bundy and three co-accused. | She said prosecutors had improperly withheld evidence that could have helped Mr Bundy and three co-accused. |
It is the latest episode in a decades-old conflict between ranchers and the government over use of public land. | It is the latest episode in a decades-old conflict between ranchers and the government over use of public land. |
Supporters cheered on Monday as Mr Bundy hugged his wife and walked out of the Las Vegas court a free man. | |
He said he had been jailed for 700 days as a "political prisoner". | He said he had been jailed for 700 days as a "political prisoner". |
US District Judge Navarro last month declared a mistrial in the case. Bundy, 71, two of his sons, Ryan and Ammon Bundy, and a Montana militia leader, Ryan Payne, went on trial in October. | |
The four were charged with felony counts of carrying and using a firearm, engaging in conspiracy and threatening a federal officer. | The four were charged with felony counts of carrying and using a firearm, engaging in conspiracy and threatening a federal officer. |
Cliven Bundy expresses racist views | Cliven Bundy expresses racist views |
Oregon militia stand-off ends | Oregon militia stand-off ends |
On Monday, the judge said her decision was partly based on "flagrant prosecutorial misconduct", the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports. | |
She said the prosecution had withheld evidence that could have been favourable to the defence team. | |
This included records about federal surveillance at the Bundy ranch, the presence of government snipers and previous law enforcement assessments that the Bundys posed no threat. | This included records about federal surveillance at the Bundy ranch, the presence of government snipers and previous law enforcement assessments that the Bundys posed no threat. |
The four-day standoff happened in April 2014 near government-owned land outside Bunkerville, 80 miles (130km) north of Las Vegas. | The four-day standoff happened in April 2014 near government-owned land outside Bunkerville, 80 miles (130km) north of Las Vegas. |
Law enforcement officials tried to remove Mr Bundy's cattle, saying he owed more than $1m (£737,000) in grazing fees on US Bureau of Land Management property. | Law enforcement officials tried to remove Mr Bundy's cattle, saying he owed more than $1m (£737,000) in grazing fees on US Bureau of Land Management property. |
Hundreds of armed supporters rallied from across the country to keep officers off Mr Bundy's ranch. | Hundreds of armed supporters rallied from across the country to keep officers off Mr Bundy's ranch. |
The Bundys argued that the government lacked the constitutional authority to control the land where his cattle fed. | The Bundys argued that the government lacked the constitutional authority to control the land where his cattle fed. |
Last year, two separate trials against six other men accused of conspiracy in the Bundy ranch standoff ended without convictions. | Last year, two separate trials against six other men accused of conspiracy in the Bundy ranch standoff ended without convictions. |
Ammon and Ryan Bundy also led a 41-day standoff with federal officials at an Oregon wildlife preserve two years ago. | Ammon and Ryan Bundy also led a 41-day standoff with federal officials at an Oregon wildlife preserve two years ago. |
The brothers were among seven defendants acquitted last year in that case, but others were convicted. | The brothers were among seven defendants acquitted last year in that case, but others were convicted. |
The cases became a lightning rod for anger over perceived government overreach in the American West. | The cases became a lightning rod for anger over perceived government overreach in the American West. |
The Bureau of Land Management oversees much of the land west of the Rocky Mountains. | The Bureau of Land Management oversees much of the land west of the Rocky Mountains. |