Posted on 02/08/2017 3:54:10 AM PST by Nextrush
FBI agents posed as journalists and tricked the Bundy ranching family and their supporters into giving on-camera interviews that prosecutors may use in upcoming trials, according to defense attorneys and court records.
The FBI's "fake film production company" and "wide ranging deceptive undercover operation", as lawyers described it in a court filing, is one of multiple controversies that some say could derail the government's prosecution of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy, his four sons and a dozen of their followers. A recent Bureau of Land Management (BLM) ethics scandal involving tickets for popular Burning Man festival could further hinder prosecutors in the high-profile trial, which began this week in Las Vegas.....
federal investigators recently announced ethical misconduct and violations by a BLM supervisory agent, who is accused of using his influence to obtain tickets and special passes to the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert. The agent, who officials did not name, also allegedly used BLM resources for his family's benefit at Burning Man and intervened in hiring to benefit a friend.
Though the investigators did not name the agent, the Salt Lake Tribune and Reno Gazette-Journal identified him as Dan Love, who held the position outlined in the government's report during the period in the inquiry.
Love oversaw the BLM's handling of the 2014 Bundy standoff, and given his role as a key witness, Bunkerville defense attorneys have said the misconduct case could unravel the prosecution.
"He has a history of intimidation and bullying," said Chris Rasmussen, attorney for defendant Pete Santilli, arguing that the agent heightened tensions at the standoff. "Instead of de-escalation, he tried to escalate the situation.".....
(Excerpt) Read more at theguardian.com ...
Bundy Ranch Facebook linked this story yesterday so I thought I would pass it along.
THE TRIAL OF THE FIRST SIX ACCUSED IN THE BUNKERVILLE STANDOFF IS SET TO HEAR ITS FIRST TESTIMONY TOMORROW.
A JURY WAS SWORN IN YESTERDAY.
The first six on trial are considered low level people yet the charges against them could put them in jail for 101 years, according to mainstream media reports.
Very deceptive behavior and lack of integrity from the FBI. However, this may open up an option for those whom the ‘interviews’ are being used as prosecution evidence.
We hear so many times about how people get tripped up and convicted are by telling the FBI or other official federal organ the truth. Lying to them is a crime so they say.
In that vein, I believe one defense tack I’d try is that whatever I told the “news” was an outright lie - completely fabricated and none of it true. The FBI cannot fall back on lying to the government because they put themselves forth as “not government.”
....by NOT telling the FBI the truth......
Was anyone there NOT and FBI agent?
Bkmk
They should have told the FBI that they were working for Soros or Harry Reid and they would have been left alone.
What we here in Nevada already knew. Dan Love is a opportunistic shameful example of a LEO.
The very much worthless federal Gub mint controls over 80 percent of the land in the west.
Regulation and too many rules and regulations and horse crap.
Give the land back to the states where it belongs.
Well said.........
Just like laws....
Telling the truth is only for the little people.
Agent Dan Love is a criminal who belongs in prison, or better yet, executed for his crimes against his fellow Americans.
I don’t know for sure what the future holds, but I hope things move in a better direction and if they don’t, I hope people figure that out and ‘take a stand’ in a spirit of peace and non violence allowing the other side to engage in that if they so choose.
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