Cliven Bundy sues President Obama, Harry Reid
Cliven Bundy sues President Obama, Harry Reid
BY SERGIO AVILA TUESDAY, MAY 10TH 2016
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Cliven Bundy.jpg
LAS VEGAS (KSNV News3LV) — A legal bombshell has dropped from Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy.
He's fighting federal charges over the armed standoff near his Bunkerville ranch two years ago.
Bundy is now suing President Barack Obama, Senator Harry Reid, his son Rory Reid, and the federal court judge handling Bundy's appeal to get out of prison on bail.
The federal court hearing lasted nearly two hours. Bundy's attorney Joel Hansen made arguments as to why his client should be let out of prison.
"He's never been arrested in his life for anything before this. He's a peaceful man who is raising a constitutional question about who owns the land in Nevada," Hansen said.
Bundy's contention is the state owns the land around his ranch so the federal government had no right to come and attempt to confiscate his cattle back in April 2014.
Hansen also said it was the feds who became violent during the standoff, not Bundy or his supporters.
The prosecution called those claims offensive and outrageous, saying Bundy and his sons incited officers to respond with force.
During the hearing, Hansen eventually produced the new lawsuit just filed in federal court.
"It is regrettable that we had to do this but we are out of options," Hansen said.
The lawsuit alleges violations of constitutional rights.
"His first amendment rights have been violated. His second amendment rights have been violated. Fifth amendment, sixth amendment, eighth amendment, they're violating most of the Bill of Rights," Hansen said.
The defense also demanded Judge Navarro recuse herself from the case due to a separate conflict of interest.
Ultimately, Navarro pushed back her decision on bail for Bundy until after the issue of the conflict can be addressed.
For now, Bundy remains behind bars awaiting the outcome of what is becoming an even larger legal battle.
They'll be back in court May 25 to decide if the judge will recuse herself; if not, she'll decide if Bundy will remain in jail or be out on bail.
Late Tuesday afternoon Senator Harry Reid released a statement calling the lawsuit "baseless and absurd" and once again referred to the Bundy men as "domestic terrorists".
http://news3lv.com/news/local/cliven-bundy-sues-president-obama-harry-reid