Ken Medenbach testifies that the Bundys are his heroes,....(OREGON STANDOFF TRIAL)

OregonLive ^ | 10/11/2016 | Maxine Bernstein

[Nextrush]

Ken Medenbach, the lone Oregon resident on trial on a federal conspiracy charge stemming from the seizure of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, told jurors Tuesday he's exactly where he wants to be.....

He called the Bundys his "heroes" for the "bold move" they made in the 2014 standoff with federal officers near patriarch Cliven Bundy's ranch near Bunkerville, Nevada. Medenbach noted that he's been fighting "the same things they were fighting."

"The federal government doesn't have authority to own land in the states," Medenbach said.

And like Ammon Bundy, Medenbach added, "I've been called by a higher power to do what I'm doing.".......

Earlier Tuesday, one of Ammon Bundy's defense lawyers called a cousin of Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward.....

Rodney Glen Cooper of Veneta, Oregon, testified that he visited the sheriff twice in January "to find out what is going on out there."....

On his first visit with Ward on Jan. 18, he said he inquired about the concept of being a "constitutional sheriff." After that visit, Cooper said he visited the refuge, and met Ryan Bundy.

During a second visit with Ward, Cooper said the sheriff shared with him his feeling about Ammon Bundy and Ryan Bundy.

Cooper characterized Ward's position like this: "He said he was about 90 with they were doing, and if they have been on different circumstances, they could have been good friends."

"On Jan. 25 did Sheriff Ward tell you he did not feel threatened by the Bundys?" defense attorney J. Morgan Philpot asked.

"Yes he did," Cooper answered.

Ward had previously testified during the government's case that Ammon Bundy had made repeated ultimatums to him that if he didn't prevent the Hammond ranchers from returning to federal prison, there would be extreme civil unrest in his county.....

[Nextrush]

Yesterday was a day off for the Oregon Standoff Trial, but on Tuesday there were a slew of defense witnesses including Ken Medenbach and a cousin of Sheriff Dave Ward of Harney County.

Rodney Glen Cooper, Ward's cousing, said that Sheriff Ward told him he didn't feel threatened by the Bundy's, contradicting the testimony Ward gave for the prosecution.

The trial is resuming today.