Bundy Trial: Mistrial Declared, Brady Violations Cited

LAS VEGAS, NV - Judge Gloria Navarro has declared a mistrial in the federal government's case against Bunkerville rancher Cliven Bundy, his two sons Ryan and Ammon Bundy, and supporter Ryan Payne. A new trial date has been set for Feb. 26, the Los Angeles Times and other outlets reported Wednesday.

Navarro mentioned the possibility of a mistrial last week. On Wednesday the judge said a Brady violation occurred when the government failed to provide evidence to the defense. The decision comes three and a half years after the 2014 standoff and four months after Bundy supporters were found not guilty of felony charges stemming from their involvement.

"To have an actual order from the court, a ruling, for her to say those things, it does bring a lot of vindication to us. She talked about our family, my dad, how he wasn't prone to use violence," Ammon Bundy told reporters outside the Las Vegas courthouse, according to a video from Tay Wiles of High Country News.

The prosecution in the case failed to provide threat assessments, surveillance reports, and a Bureau of Land Management report condemning the FBI's handling of the case, Wiles reported last week.

The Oregonian reported Navarro said Wednesday that "the failure to turn over such evidence violates due process."

It's not clear yet if the trial set for Feb. 26 will occur or not. Cliven Bundy's attorney Bret Whipple said he was pleased with Navarro's decision, but said he was disappointed that it didn't go to the jury.

"I think finality would have occurred with a jury," Whipple told reporters in a video posted by Maxine Bernstein of the Oregonian.

Whipple told reporters that Bundy wasn't surprised by the decision.

"I think at the end of the day, we always anticipated this would be the end result," he said.

The 2014 incident in Bunkerville, roughly 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas, was fueled when the federal government ordered the seizure of Bundy's cattle due to unpaid grazing fees dating back over 20 years. Supporters from across the western United States flocked to support the Bundy family, resulting in an armed standoff that eventually resulted in the government releasing the cattle and backing out of the rural southern Nevada desert town.

Image: Ryan Bundy, center, is embraced by his aunts Lillie Spencer, left, and Margaret Houston outside of a federal courthouse Wednesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Las Vegas. Chief U.S. District Judge Gloria Navarro declared a mistrial Wednesday in the case against Cliven Bundy, his sons Ryan and Ammon Bundy and self-styled Montana militia leader Ryan Payne. (AP Photo/John Locher)