Debate about actions in Bunkerville rages as Bundy trial resumes

Did the Bundy family and its supporters threaten federal officers by pointing guns at them during the 2014 Bunkerville standoff in Southern Nevada?

C.J. Hadley, publisher and editor of Range Magazine, said no last week on “Nevada Newsmakers.”

Patrick Donnelly, Nevada director of the Center for Biological Diversity, said yes.

Rancher Cliven Bundy, two of his sons and another co-defendant face trial in Las Vegas for allegedly leading an armed uprising against government agents in 2014. A key part of the prosecution is whether Bundy, his sons and others threatened federal officers by pointing guns at them.

It’s proved to be a heated point of debate about the standoff and subsequent trials.

“The Bundys and their cronies were involved in an insurrection against the police in which many automatic and semiautomatic weapons where pointed at federal officers,” Donnelly said. “There is photographic evidence of that. That is not in dispute.

“When I first picked up a gun, I was told you only point a gun at somebody if you are ready to shoot them,” Donnelly said. “So these folks were ready to kill federal officers of the law.”

The Bundys’ lawyer in the current trial in Las Vegas has said his clients didn’t wield weapons and didn’t threaten anybody. Hadley agreed.

“I consider what Patrick Donnelly just said as unadulterated crap,” Hadley said. “The Bundys are guilty of absolutely nothing.”

Hadley pointed to two decisions in recent trials involving Bundy supporters. The latest Bundy trial was postponed last week when questions surfaced about federal prosecutors giving complete records of evidence to the defense.

“In the two (Bunkerville standoff) cases that have already come before Judge (Gloria) Navarro in Las Vegas, 10 to 1 to acquit the first time, 11 to 1 to acquit Patrick Donnelly, Nevada director of the Center for Biological Diversity C.J. Hadley, publisher and editor of Range Magazine