In a stunning verdict that is difficult to understand, a jury returned Not Guilty verdicts on federal conspiracy charges to all defendants charged in connection with the occupation of the Malheur Wildlife Preserve in Oregon.
About 10 months after the 41-day takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, a jury found 7 occupiers not guilty of conspiring to impede federal workers from doing their jobs at the refuge.
The verdict came one day after a juror was dismissed due to concerns over his impartiality.
Ammon Bundy’s attorney Marcus Mumford was tackled to the ground in court after arguing that his client was free to go in light of the verdict. He and his brother, Ryan, are still under federal indictment in Nevada.
Mumford was detained by about half a dozen U.S. Marshals.
We will update this story as more details are available.
Update 1: Apparently the reason for the acquittal relates to the structure of the charges. Instead of going for the straightforward charge of possessing firearms on federal property, prosecutors went for intent to commit a crime, and didn't prove it?
