Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy denied bail for 2014 standoff

Cliven Bundy’s not going home any time soon.

The Guardian reports a federal judge denied the 69-year-old rancher bail on Thursday in the lead-up to his federal conspiracy trial for a 2014 armed standoff with federal officials over public land usage.

Bundy inspired a far-right conservative fight when federal officials attempted to seize his cattle in 2014 due to non-payment of grazing fees. Hundreds armed supporters turned out to his Nevada ranch for a tense standoff with federal officials.

Bundy refused to enter a plea against the conspiracy charges during an arraignment in Las Vegas last week. His defense lawyers argued the rancher posed no danger to the public were he released.

“He never brandished a weapon at any federal officer. He never stood in the way of any federal officer. He has never assaulted anyone in his life nor has he ever committed a battery on anyone,” his legal brief read.

That may or may not be true, but the judge was more persuaded by federal prosecutors who pointed out the Bundy family’s tendency to be involved with heavily armed supporters.

Bundy was arrested by federal authorities earlier this year while traveling to meet his son, Ammon Bundy, who was (surprise) leading an armed standoff with federal officials at a wildlife refuge in Oregon. The younger Bundy remains in federal custody in Oregon awaiting trial for that standoff, but also faces charges for the 2014 Nevada affair as well.