A video released Thursday shows the chaos and anger among remaining occupiers of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on the night of Jan. 26, 2016 -- after the arrests of occupation leaders and fatal police shooting of the armed takeover's spokesman.

The video was released to The Oregonian/OregonLive in response to a public records request.

Federal prosecutors had played the video in court on Feb. 23 during the federal conspiracy trial of four defendants early this year. Investigators obtained the video from refuge occupier Jason Patrick's video camera.

The video was shot in the darkened bunkhouse kitchen of the refuge. It was referenced by prosecutors repeatedly in the sentencing last month of refuge occupier Darryl Thorn.

It shows the bickering that occurred over whether to stay or leave the refuge after the arrests of occupation leaders -- including Ammon Bundy, Ryan Bundy and others -- and after the police fatal shooting of occupation spokesman Robert "LaVoy" Finicum.

Occupier Blaine Cooper, wearing a black-hooded sweatshirt, tactical vest and holding an assault rifle, walks through the group and sarcastically muses, "If you can't solve an argument in this circle, how you going to fight the feds?''

Cooper proposes driving off the refuge in one of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service firetrucks with others following in a convoy behind it.

"If they try to (expletive) with us, lay lead down,'' Cooper says, meaning opening fire.

Patrick, who is referred to by his nickname "Clooney,'' challenges Cooper. "You think that's more tactical than standing peacefully here?'' Patrick adds that he came to the refuge to defend the Constitution, not fight.

Thorn, dressed in camouflage with the word "militia'' visible in block letters across the front of his jacket, sits on a stool with several assault rifles between his legs. Thorn, clearly agitated and losing his patience, eventually cuts in and urges his cohorts to stay and fight.

Thorn calls out others as "salty-mother-(expletive)" who are talking with their "tails between their legs.''

"We came here for one (expletive) reason, and that's to fight!'' Thorn continues. "I'm here to fight. I'm not here to run.''

Patrick and Thorn were convicted at trial of federal conspiracy to impede federal employees from doing their jobs at the refuge through intimidation, threat or force, and misdemeanor charges, including trespass. Thorn also was convicted of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a conspiracy, and misdemeanors, trespass and tampering with government vehicles or equipment.

Cooper pleaded guilty to federal conspiracy and became a cooperating government witness who testified at the refuge occupation trial this year.

Patrick and Cooper have not been sentenced yet. Patrick's lawyer Andrew Kohlmetz has said he intends to reference the video at Patrick's sentencing, suggesting his client was a voice of reason amid the chaos the night of Jan. 26, 2016.

The video was played and entered into evidence as trial Exhibit No. 402 during the second trial stemming from the 41-day occupation of the federal wildlife refuge.

A trial last fall ended with the acquittals of the occupation leaders Ammon Bundy, his brother Ryan Bundy and five others. The Bundy brothers are now on trial in federal court in Las Vegas, accused of organizing a "massive armed assault'' near Bunkerville, Nevada, to thwart federal rangers from carrying out court orders to impound their fathers' cattle for failure to pay grazing fees for two decades.

The Oregonian/OregonLive had requested the video from the U.S. Attorney's Office shortly after the trial ended this spring. The U.S. Attorney's office directed The Oregonian/OregonLive to seek the video from the FBI. With the request to the FBI still pending, the Oregonian/OregonLive asked the court for the video, a trial exhibit that's public record.

-- Maxine Bernstein

mbernstein@oregonian.com

503-221-8212

@maxoregonian