Cliven Bundy to walk free as federal judge dismisses Bundy Ranch standoff case

Robert Anglen | The Republic | azcentral.com

Show Caption Hide Caption Wife of Cliven Bundy: 'So proud of that man' Carol Bundy, wife of Cliven Bundy and mother of Ammon and Ryan Bundy, talks outside the U.S. Courthouse in Las Vegas on Dec. 20, 2017. Robert Anglen/azcentral

LAS VEGAS — Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, his two sons and a militia member will not face a retrial on charges that they led an armed rebellion against federal agents in 2014.

A federal judge Monday said the federal prosecutors' conduct was "outrageous" and "violated due process rights" of the defendants.

U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro said a new trial would not be sufficient to address the problems in the case and would provide the prosecution with an unfair advantage going forward. She dismissed the charges against the four men "with prejudice," meaning they cannot face trial again.

As the courtroom doors opened after Navarro's ruling, a huge cheer went up from the crowd of spectators gathered outside.

► Dec. 20: Judge declares mistrial in Bundy Ranch standoff case

► Nov. 7: Bundy trial delayed over government's handling of surveillance cameras

► Aug. 22: No guilty verdicts in Bundy Ranch standoff trial

Navarro's decision comes less than a month after she declared a mistrial in case and found that federal prosecutors willfully withheld critical and "potentially exculpatory" evidence from the defense.

Cliven Bundy, his sons Ammon and Ryan Bundy, and militia member Ryan Payne were all in court. Cliven Bundy had remained in jail until the hearing. The judge ordered his immediate release.

On Dec. 20, Navarro cited six pieces of evidence the Nevada U.S. Attorney's Office failed to disclose that were favorable to the defense and could have changed the outcome of the trial.

► Aug. 10: GOP makes progress on goal for more local control of federal lands

► May 19: Judge rejects Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy attempt to jump-start trial

The evidence she cited:

• Records about surveillance at the Bundy ranch

• Maps about government surveillance

• Records about the presence of government snipers

• FBI logs about activity at the ranch in the days leading up to standoff

• Law-enforcement assessments dating to 2012 that found the Bundys posed no threat

• Internal affairs reports about misconduct by Bureau of Land Management agents

"Failure to turn over such evidence violates due process," Navarro said last month. "A fair trial at this point is impossible."

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