Here’s what we know this morning about the ongoing standoff between FBI agents and the holdouts occupying the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon.
As we reported last night, the FBI surrounded the refuge and demanded the surrender of the 4 still occupying the building:
The FBI has encircled the four remaining occupiers at the Oregon wildlife refuge. Agents in armored vehicles are demanding they surrender.
— Les Zaitz (@LesZaitz) February 11, 2016
And there is some talk of surrender this morning:
Sean Anderson said they will surrender in the morning when legislator, reverend are at checkpoint. Unclear if he is speaking for Fry, Banta.
— Les Zaitz (@LesZaitz) February 11, 2016
FBI agents were able to “infiltrate” the refuge last night and surround the occupiers. From the Oregonian:
The last four occupiers, who have camped alone since Jan. 28 at the headquarters compound, agreed Wednesday night to surrender in the morning. They did so after FBI tactical teams infiltrated refuge buildings undetected overnight Tuesday and into Wednesday. The FBI then hemmed in the occupiers with armored vehicles and negotiated with them for five hours to reach the surrender agreement.
But there’s a wrinkle. Cliven Bundy — father of refuge occupation leader Ammon Bundy — was arrested by the FBI last night on his way to the refuge and charged over his 2014 standoff with federal authorities in Nevada:
FBI arrested Cliven Bundy, 74, at PDX airport @ 10:45 pm, booked him into downtown Portland jail at 10:54pm on US Marshalhold#oregonstandoff
— Maxine Bernstein (@maxoregonian) February 11, 2016
Multnomah County Jail confirms that Cliven Bundy is being held on a U.S. Marshal hold. No mug shot being released because of that. #Oregon
— Ryan Haas (@ryanjhaas) February 11, 2016
BREAKING: Cliven Bundy arrested in Portland Wednesday night on federal charges for the 2014 standoff in Nevada with federal agents.
— Les Zaitz (@LesZaitz) February 11, 2016
MORE: Among the charges Cliven Bundy faces is conspiracy to interfere with federal officers. The same charge his sons face for OR takeover.
— Les Zaitz (@LesZaitz) February 11, 2016
Bundy is being held in the same jail as his sons:
Three Bundys are now in the Multnomah County jail: Cliven and his sons Ammon and Ryan. #Oregonstandoff
— Molly Young (@mollykyoung) February 11, 2016
Surrender time at the refuge is reportedly 8 a.m. PST:
Surrender time was set at 8 am PST according to militant Sean Anderson. So that's about 6 hours from now. https://t.co/gj0j4J6pSb
— Ryan Haas (@ryanjhaas) February 11, 2016
Sean Anderson says @FBI agents will meet them at checkpt in morning. Occupiers will put weapons in their vehicles. #Oregonstandoff
— Molly Young (@mollykyoung) February 11, 2016
And evangelist Franklin Graham is expected some time this morning:
.@VoteFiore says she and @Franklin_Graham will arrive tomorrow morning. She's telling Mark to repeat the guarantee over the loudspeaker.
— Molly Young (@mollykyoung) February 11, 2016
But it’s not clear how the arrest of the elder Bundy will affect the negotiations:
This could change the surrender deal for the final 4. https://t.co/6nfIzjvonj
— Amanda Peacher (@amandapeacher) February 11, 2016
Arnold says he's in "frustrated disbelief" that police would arrest Cliven when @VoteFiore was trying to get a surrender tomorrow.
— Ryan Haas (@ryanjhaas) February 11, 2016
(1/2) Arnold says there's a silver lining: "If Cliven Bundy can get arrested peacefully without force or violence…
— Ryan Haas (@ryanjhaas) February 11, 2016
(2/2) Arnold: "…then the four remaining at the refuge can feel confident they can walk out unharmed.”
— Ryan Haas (@ryanjhaas) February 11, 2016
As of the writing of this post, it’s all quiet:
Still very quiet at the roadblock. I hear the hum of generators in the distance, an occasional goose call, coyote yips.
— Amanda Peacher (@amandapeacher) February 11, 2016
Here’s hoping this all ends peacefully.
Update:
Franklin Graham due in Harney Co. around 7 am; holdouts have agreed to come out. https://t.co/c5cnU6jEIe #KOIN6News pic.twitter.com/hkTWGoqwjS
— Brent Weisberg (@BrentWeisberg) February 11, 2016
Franklin Graham says in post that he talked to occupiers for hours and is on his way to Oregon, hoping to be at refuge by 7 a.m.
— Les Zaitz (@LesZaitz) February 11, 2016
Editor’s note: This post has been updated.
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Related:
FBI moves in on last four occupiers on 40th day of Oregon standoff; Suicide by federal agent?
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