PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The jailed leader of the armed group that took over a national wildlife refuge in eastern Oregon is speaking out after he and 15 others were indicted by a federal grand jury.
Ammon Bundy struck a defiant tone in an audio recording released on Thursday by his family. He spoke from Multnomah County Jail in Portland.
Bundy defended taking over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge as a way to educate people about injustices by federal officials toward ranchers and others.
Bundy made reference to the death last week of one of the lead occupiers, Robert Finicum, who died in a confrontation with FBI agents and Oregon state troopers that also resulted in the arrest of Bundy and others.
Bundy said in the audio recording, "Go home, Oregon State Police, you have already killed enough" and "Go home, FBI, it is time to end this."
FBI agents, Oregon State Police and other law enforcement officers are deployed around the refuge as four occupiers remain holed up there.