The late LaVoy Finicum’s daughters Brittney (left), Thara (center) and widow Jeanette outside the federal courthouse in Las Vegas.

The show trials have begun in both the Oregon and Nevada cases against the Bundys. The hallmark of these cases continues to be Cruel and Unusual Punishment. Included in Friday’s arraignment hearing in Las Vegas for the defense of the Bundy Ranch were Cliven Bundy’s sons Ryan and Ammon Bundy, Ryan Payne, Brian Cavalier and Blaine Cooper.

When the time came for Ammon Bundy to enter his plea, he attempted to tell the magistrate judge that he had been abused at the Henderson Detention Facility where he and the four others were transported the previous day. Looking haggard with obvious weight loss, Ammon told of being forced to sit on a bench, handcuffed for 23 hours without food. The magistrate callously interrupted, telling Bundy that he was only to enter his plea and no more.

Family members were visibly upset and expressed their anger leaving the courthouse.

The day was marked by various drama. The judge instructed the clerk to read the 68-page indictment due to at least one defendant’s demand. Some of the Bundy family members shook their heads as the trumped up charges were being read. Over and over the phrase “whatever it takes” was used to characterize as a threat against federal agents.

During the initial reading of the charges, Ammon’s attorney from Oregon, Mike Arnold, was evicted by suited U.S. marshalls for reading on his cell phone. He had been inside the courtroom attempting to brief the Nevada lawyer who was representing Ammon and meeting him for the first time when the marshalls gave instructions in the hallway that all electronic devices had to be turned off. Before leaving, Arnold interrupted the reading and told the judge that he was Ammon’s attorney and that he wanted it on the record that he was being ejected from the courtroom. While ejecting him the marshall was overheard caustically saying “then why aren’t you up there with your client?”.

Outside the court, before news cameras, Arnold explained that he didn’t hear the ban on cell phones and was responding to a colleague in Oregon informing him of a court filing that was required within 90 minutes in his client’s Oregon case.

“The reason I was ordered to leave is because I’m trying to do litigation in Oregon while helping my client in Nevada and that is why it is unjust to try two cases at once.”

Arnold noted several obstacles to having two cases being tried at once. He also made a plea for witnesses at the Bundy Ranch standoff to contact his law firm, explaining that “crowdsourcing” is an important component of gathering evidence in this case.

“I met with Ammon in the Henderson jail last (Thursday) night and couldn’t use a computer, just pen and paper and my client was not allowed to use even a pen or pencil to take notes, and this is a case with millions of pages of documents,” he said.

Supporters voiced their concern that the government was attempting to dampen the protests in front of the courthouse that have characterized all the Bundy appearances since the arraignment hearing was not included on the government’s PACER website, which lists the hearings and docket reports. In spite of this, the sidewalk held many family members and friends holding protest signs and waving U.S. and Gadsen flags from about Noon until 6 pm.

Inside the court, the observers were sternly warned that they would be removed if they waved, called out or even mouthed words to the political prisoners. They were told they were allowed to make eye contact only. In keeping with the show, the judge continually referred to the people in the gallery as “the audience.”

When the clerk informed the judge that she was tired, the federal prosecuting attorney offered to take over the reading and asked to use a lectern. In addition to his BAR card, he may have a Screen Actors Guild card as well, since the reading then took on a Shakespearian air. Laughter continuously poured forth from “the audience” until the judge interrupted, instructing the actor to just read the charges plainly.

When asked if they understood the charges, all prisoners replied they did not understand and were merely exercising their 1st and 2nd Amendment rights. The judge, unlawfully practicing law from the bench, entered not guilty pleas as had been the case weeks earlier with Cliven Bundy. None of the defense attorneys present raised even a weak objection.

Since the prisoners were repeatedly referred to as “criminals,” the defendants reminded the judge that they are to be considered innocent until proven guilty. The judge got vocal approval from “the audience” when he replied “Yes, that’s in the Constitution.”

Unable to contain themselves further and with no risk at the end, family and friends shouted their love and support bringing broad smiles to the political prisoners as they were being rushed from the court. Filing out, Ammon Bundy kept shouting “Happy Birthday, Hayden!” in honor of his son’s birthday. A Bundy cousin tearfully said “I’ll tell him, Ammon, I’ll tell him.”

http://americanfreedomunion.com/persecution-of-bundys-continues/