Jeremy Fugleberg

jfugleberg@enquirer.com

The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested online talk show host Peter Santilli of Cincinnati in Oregon Tuesday night on a felony charge of conspiracy to impede federal officers. Santilli was serving as a spokesman for anti-government militia who had taken over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, Oregon.

The FBI stated Santilli was arrested in Burns at about 9:30 p.m. Cincinnati time without incident.

Santilli's arrest came several hours after FBI and Oregon State Police arrested five militia members – including militia group leader Ammon Bundy – on the same charge. A sixth unidentified member of the group was killed when shots were fired during the encounter with law enforcement, the FBI stated.

Santilli joined the group occupying the refuge in late December, 2015. In an interview with TheEnquirer he characterized himself as an independent journalist also serving as spokesman and international media coordinator for the militia group.