An Occupation In Eastern Oregon

Listen: OPB's 'This Land Is Our Land' Podcast

By OPB Staff (OPB)
Aug. 31, 2016 10:47 p.m.

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We hear from Jurors No. 4 and 11, and ask what the U.S. attorneys have to do this time if they want a guilty verdict. Listen to "This Land Is Our Land" from Feb. 22, 2017.

Each week, OPB reporters — along with attorneys and other journalists — will provide trial recaps, in-depth analysis and insight into the legal process surrounding the high-stakes trial.

Subscribe to "This Land Is Our Land" on NPR One, iTunes or wherever you find your podcasts. Find comprehensive trial coverage at OPB.org/ThisLand.

Episodes


Bonus: The Jurors Talk
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We hear from Jurors No. 4 and 11, and ask what the U.S. attorneys have to do this time if they want a guilty verdict.


An occupation supporter shouts "Free the Hammonds" outside the federal courthouse in Portland. The 41-day occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge was partly driven by the resentencing of Harney County ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond.

An occupation supporter shouts "Free the Hammonds" outside the federal courthouse in Portland. The 41-day occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge was partly driven by the resentencing of Harney County ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond.

Bradley W. Parks / OPB

Ep. 12: The Aftermath
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A week after the verdict was delivered in the trial of the Malheur refuge occupiers, we discuss the consequences of the acquittal of Ammon and Ryan Bundy, along with five other defendants.


The annual county fair is among Harney County's biggest events of the year.

The annual county fair is among Harney County's biggest events of the year.

Amanda Peacher / OPB

Update: Harney County, Tribes, Federal Employees React To Verdict
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At the end of our last update, we recommended you check out the full hour that OPB’s daily talk show “Think Out Loud” did on the verdict on Friday.

The show got into a lot of issues that we think the “This Land Is Our Land” audience will find interesting — like how Harney County residents, federal employees and the Burns Paiute tribe reacted to the verdict. So here it is.


Neil Wampler, right, signs a napkin outside the federal courthouse in downtown Portland.

Neil Wampler, right, signs a napkin outside the federal courthouse in downtown Portland.

Bradley W. Parks / OPB

Update: Listener Questions About The Verdict
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We have a verdict in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge trial. But what comes next and what does it mean?

Questions have poured in since the seven co-defendants were acquitted Thursday, Oct. 27.

OPB’s Anna Griffin and Ryan Haas answer your questions about the trial, the verdict, what went wrong for the prosecution and what happens next.


Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupation defendant David Fry greets supports outside the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse in Portland on Oct. 27, 2016. Fry, the last occupier to surrender at the refuge, was acquitted of all charges in the case.

Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupation defendant David Fry greets supports outside the Mark O. Hatfield United States Courthouse in Portland on Oct. 27, 2016. Fry, the last occupier to surrender at the refuge, was acquitted of all charges in the case.

Courtesy of Leah Sottile

Ep. 11: Verdict
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Not guilty: That was the verdict the jury returned to brothers Ammon and Ryan Bundy and five other occupiers of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The decision sparked celebration from supporters and even more questions as to what comes next.


In this file photo, people enter the federal courthouse in downtown Portland on the first day of the trial of seven occupiers of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

In this file photo, people enter the federal courthouse in downtown Portland on the first day of the trial of seven occupiers of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

Bryan M. Vance / OPB

Update: Juror Dismissed For Possible Bias
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The prosecution, defense and judge agreed to dismiss juror No. 11 following accusations of bias. The jury must restart deliberation.


In a note to U.S. District Judge Anna Brown, the jury raised questions about the impartiality of one of its members. Brown has sent a note back to the jury asking them for clarification.

In a note to U.S. District Judge Anna Brown, the jury raised questions about the impartiality of one of its members. Brown has sent a note back to the jury asking them for clarification.

Amelia Templeton / OPB

Update: Juror Questioned Over Potential Bias
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A juror in the trial of Ammon Bundy and six others sent a note to the judge Tuesday, questioning the impartiality of juror No. 11 because he used to work for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.


John Lamb of Bozeman, Montana, stands outside the federal courthouse in downtown Portland Tuesday. Sept. 16, 2016.

John Lamb of Bozeman, Montana, stands outside the federal courthouse in downtown Portland Tuesday. Sept. 16, 2016.

Bryan M. Vance / OPB

Ep. 10: Jury Deliberation
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OPB’s Amanda Peacher joins OPB News Director Anna Griffin to walk through the final hours in the courtroom.


Courtesy Multnomah County Sheriff Office

Update: The Closing Arguments
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OPB’s Amanda Peacher talks to journalist Leah Sottile about the last chance for the prosecution and defense to persuade the jury in the trial of the occupiers of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.


Courtesy Multnomah County Sheriff Office

Update: The Defense Rests Its Case
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OPB’s Kate Davidson and Conrad Wilson talk about the final moments of the trial before the case goes to the jury — including new revelations about government informants. They also discuss what closing arguments will be like before jury deliberations begin.


A Northern Pintail looks for food at Malheur Lake on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

A Northern Pintail looks for food at Malheur Lake on the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

Barbara Wheeler Photography/Malheur National Wildlife Refuge

Ep. 9: The Heart Of The Issue — Public Lands
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The occupiers argue the federal government can’t manage public lands as well as state, counties or private entities. They’d even like to see the land transferred. But that’s a pretty big political fight and a move environmental and conversation groups oppose.


David Lee Fry, one of the last occupiers of the Malheur refuge, first traveled to Harney County only after his parents left for vacation.

David Lee Fry, one of the last occupiers of the Malheur refuge, first traveled to Harney County only after his parents left for vacation.

Amanda Peacher / OPB

Update: Online Radicalization, Mental Illness and David Fry
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David Fry wasn’t a rancher. He wasn’t from the West. He wasn’t invested in the land transfer movement. He is a 26-year-old, half-Japanese computer aficionado from suburban Cincinnati, Ohio. He wore hoodies, not flannels.

On the newest episode of “This Land Is Our Land,” we look into Fry’s troubled youth, his mental health issues and what radicalized him.


Ammon and Ryan Bundy

Ammon and Ryan Bundy

Amanda Peacher / OPB

Ep. 8: Guns And Gun Culture In Court
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This week we ask: What kinds of limits are there on the right to bear arms? And how do the differences in gun culture play out in the courtroom?


The federal courthouse in downtown Portland.

The federal courthouse in downtown Portland.

Bryan M. Vance / OPB

Update: Ammon Bundy Finishes Testimony
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A federal prosecutor only spent 15 minutes cross examining Ammon Bundy in federal court Thursday. That’s after Bundy’s defense attorney spent parts of three days questioning him about his time at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge


The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters, seen here in January 2016, will remain closed during the trial for seven people charged in the refuge's takeover.

The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters, seen here in January 2016, will remain closed during the trial for seven people charged in the refuge's takeover.

Amanda Peacher / OPB

Update: More Testimony From Ammon Bundy
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OPB reporter Conrad Wilson talks about some of the more notable moments of Ammon Bundy's testimony on Wednesday.


Ammon Bundy removes a fence separating the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge from ranching land.

Ammon Bundy removes a fence separating the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge from ranching land.

Anna King / Northwest Network

Update: Ammon Bundy Takes The Stand
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Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupation leader Ammon Bundy briefly took the stand Tuesday in federal court to defend his actions in taking over the refuge.


There's history behind the pocket Constitutions occupiers carried at the refuge.

There's history behind the pocket Constitutions occupiers carried at the refuge.

Amanda Peacher / OPB

Ep. 7: About That Pocket Constitution ...
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What is the Constitution's "enclave clause"? Occupiers like Ammon Bundy say it prevents the federal government from owning land. We explain.


Ammon Bundy

Ammon Bundy

Conrad Wilson / OPB

Update: The Defense Begins Its Case
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We dive into the opening day of the defense's case for Ammon Bundy and six others accused of taking over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Then, we hear about what life is like on the Bundy Ranch in Nevada.


The Central Oregon Major Incident Team released photos of evidence from the Jan. 26 shooting of militant leader Robert "LaVoy" Finicum.

The Central Oregon Major Incident Team released photos of evidence from the Jan. 26 shooting of militant leader Robert "LaVoy" Finicum.

Courtesy Central Oregon Major Incident Team

Update: The Government Rests Its Case
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The prosecution rested its case after a gargantuan display of weapons and ammunition found at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge before handing off to the defense.


The Pacific Patriots Network surrounded the Harney County Courthouse in January, where they met with Sheriff Dave Ward.

The Pacific Patriots Network surrounded the Harney County Courthouse in January, where they met with Sheriff Dave Ward.

Dave Blanchard / OPB

Ep. 6: The Movement Bigger Than The Bundys
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The Bundy family is only a small part of what is known as the Patriot Movement. This episode examines the loosely-connected network of organizations united in the belief the federal government has overstepped its authority.


Ammon Bundy talks with occupiers at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in January 2016.

Ammon Bundy talks with occupiers at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in January 2016.

Kristian Foden-Vencil / OPB

Update: The Government's Secret Informant
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Wednesday the jury heard a major revelation from the prosecution: the government had an informant embedded with Ammon Bundy and other leaders of the occupation. OPB's Conrad Wilson and Ryan Haas also discuss the guns prosecutors brought into the courtroom and put on display for jurors.


Ryan Bundy

Ryan Bundy

Conrad Wilson / OPB

Update: Refuge Employees Testify And Contested Bundy Interview
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The testimony of two Malheur National Wildlife Refuge employees offered firsthand accounts of how work on the refuge was affected during the 41-day takeover of the grounds, plus a six-minute OPB interview with Ryan Bundy that prosecutors want the jury to hear. OPB's Conrad Wilson joins OPB News Director Anna Griffin for a special mid-week "This Land Is Our Land" update.


B.J. Soper speaks into a megaphone. Protesters with the Pacific Patriots Network faced a counter protest of Harney County residents during the occupation in Burns in January 2016.

B.J. Soper speaks into a megaphone. Protesters with the Pacific Patriots Network faced a counter protest of Harney County residents during the occupation in Burns in January 2016.

Amanda Peacher / OPB

Ep. 5: Going Back To Harney County
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OPB reporter Conrad Wilson and The Guardian reporter Sam Levin recap the victories and losses for the government and occupiers in the first week of the Malheur occupation trial.

Then we return to Harney County with OPB reporter Amanda Peacher.


John Lamb of Bozeman, Montana, stands outside the federal courthouse in downtown Portland Tuesday. Sept. 16, 2016.

John Lamb of Bozeman, Montana, stands outside the federal courthouse in downtown Portland Tuesday. Sept. 16, 2016.

Bryan M. Vance / OPB

Update: First Witnesses
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OPB’s Conrad Wilson reports on the first witnesses to take the stand in the Malheur refuge trial: Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward, and a man who was at the refuge on the day the armed protestors began their occupation.

We also hear about the testimony of a lieutenant sheriff who said one occupier encouraged him to “remove Sheriff Ward by any means necessary, including death.”

Wilson joins OPB Producer Dave Blanchard for a special mid-week “This Land Is Our Land” to share what he heard.


The federal courthouse in downtown Portland.

The federal courthouse in downtown Portland.

Bryan M. Vance / OPB

Update: Opening Arguments
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OPB reporter Conrad Wilson was in court to hear the opening statements from the federal government and the defense in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupation trial. He breaks them down in a special update episode of "This Land Is Our Land."


The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters, seen here in January 2016, will remain closed during the trial for seven people charged in the refuge's takeover.

The Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters, seen here in January 2016, will remain closed during the trial for seven people charged in the refuge's takeover.

Amanda Peacher / OPB

Ep. 4: The Trial Begins
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After one week, the jury has been seated and opening arguments are set to begin. In this episode, "This Land Is Our Land" looks back at the first week of trial and what is to come.


Charges were dismissed against Peter Santilli, an internet radio host who broadcast live from the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge during the occupation.

Charges were dismissed against Peter Santilli, an internet radio host who broadcast live from the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge during the occupation.

Conrad Wilson / OPB

Ep. 3: Pete Santilli Charges Dropped And Jury Selection
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On the eve of the beginning of the Malheur trial, charges against one defendant were dropped. In this bonus episode of "This Land Is Our Land," OPB looks at what happened and previews the jury selection process.


Ryan Bundy, one of the leaders of the armed militants who have taken over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, says his group has not accessed government computers on the site.

Ryan Bundy, one of the leaders of the armed militants who have taken over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, says his group has not accessed government computers on the site.

John Sepulvado / OPB

Ep. 2: Defense Strategy
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OPB’s Conrad Wilson and Ryan Haas talk with Portland-based defense attorney Kevin Sali, who explains how defense attorneys go about trying to build a case for their clients when there is a mountain of documented evidence against them.


Courtesy of the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office

Ep. 1: Meet The Defendants
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In the debut episode of "This Land Is Our Land," OPB reporters Conrad Wilson, Amanda Peacher and former OPB reporter John Sepulvado take a closer look at the men and women charged with taking over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge earlier this year.


Trailer: This Is Our Land
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OPB's "This Land Is Our Land" covers the trial of Ammon Bundy and the other people charged with taking over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon earlier this year.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR:
THANKS TO OUR SPONSOR: