Judge declares mistrial in Bundy case

A federal judge in Nevada declared a mistrial Wednesday in the case against Cliven Bundy, his sons Ryan and Ammon Bundy, and self-styled Montana militia leader Ryan Payne. The four led an armed confrontation against government agents trying to confiscate Bundy cattle in 2014. Bundy has waged a long battle over land use in the West, where the federal government controls much of the property and tightly restricts grazing access. Chief U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro blasted prosecutors in her Wednesday ruling, criticizing them for willfully suppressing information and failing to turn over all evidence to defense attorneys. Navarro will decide during a Jan. 8 hearing whether to dismiss the case outright. Prosecutors in several states have had no luck pursuing cases against the Bundys and their supporters. Last year, a jury in Portland, Ore., acquitted Ryan and Ammon Bundy of leading the early 2016 occupation of a U.S. wildlife refuge in eastern Oregon. This year, Nevada prosecutors failed to get full convictions for six defendants in the 2014 standoff case. “I believe there is no jury in this country that will convict us,” Ammon Bundy said. “We have something most powerful, and that’s the truth.”