Opening arguments begin Tuesday for seven people accused of conspiring to occupy the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. The government and defense teams will be explaining to the jury how the evidence supports their case.
The Department of Justice has charged Ammon Bundy, his brother Ryan, and five others with conspiring to occupy the wildlife refuge near Burns. They’ve said the defendants prevented federal employees who worked at the refuge from doing their jobs though force, intimidation and threats.
Prosecutors will likely argue the defendants engaged in a well thought out and coordinated effort to commit a crime.
And that their actions and presence of firearms fall outside protections granted under the Constitution.
Based on months of pre-trial hearings, the defense is expected to say their clients did not engage in a conspiracy. Rather what happened at the refuge was a political protest targeting government overreach. Defendants believe they didn’t intimidate anyone and that their actions are protected by the First and Second Amendments.
Three of the defendants are acting as their own defense lawyers during the trial.
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