LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy's eldest son says he believes protesters and self-styled militia who arrived after government agents mistreated his family members ahead of a gunpoint showdown in April 2014 saved his life.
Ryan Bundy is serving as his own lawyer at trial that started Tuesday in Las Vegas.
Amid declarations of his love of family, the land, God, Americans, liberty and freedom, the 45-year-old father of seven choked with emotion as he told jurors during his opening statement Wednesday that he saw snipers pointing rifles at him and the Bundy family homestead before help arrived.
Bundy told the jury he believes the support and protection he received saved his life.
He denied anyone conspired, coerced, threatened or impeded U.S. Bureau of Land Management agents.
Instead, he says, clashes between armed government agents and Bundy family members prompted armed and unarmed strangers to arrive from around the country.