Pacific Patriots Network Issues 'Call to Action', Urging 'Any and All Americans to Come to Burns, Oregon...'

The FBI and OSP set up all kinds of roadblocks around the wildlife reserve yesterday. Anyone attempting to cross the lines would be arrested.

So it's interesting about the PPN's "Call to Action." What, are a bunch of cowboys and ranchers going to hole up at all the hotels in Burns, Oregon, and reminisce each morning over eggs, biscuits and gravy at the local diner?

We'll see.

At the Portland Oregonian, "'Thousands' called to Burns to tell FBI to leave after occupation leader's arrest."

Here's PPN's statement, "IN RESPONSE TO THESE EVENTS, PACIFIC PATRIOTS NETWORK IS ISSUING CALL TO ACTION":

militant supporters are meeting online RIGHT NOW to discuss a potential rescue attempt. this as PPN calls for this https://t.co/Pn4JotPMZy

— John Sepulvado (@JohnLGC) January 29, 2016

They're calling on ppl from throughout the country to come to Harney County.

— John Sepulvado (@JohnLGC) January 29, 2016

Calling on any and all Americans to come to Burns, Oregon to come to the aid of the American people standing against these violent, malicious and deceitful tactics. Come stand together with other Americans, and express our Constitutional right to PEACEFULLY assemble and air our grievances.

This operation will demand the following:

- Immediate detention by Oregon State Police of the FBI special agent in charge along with all agents and LEO involved in the shooting death of Lavoy Finicum. A first hand eyewitness account presents reasonable cause for arrest while the investigation takes place.

- Immediate removal of all militarized FBI personnel and equipment from Harney County. All State and County Law Enforcement officers are not included and requested to stay and assist in the process to keep the peace.

- Immediate resignation of Judge Steve Grasty, Sheriff David Ward, County commissioner Pete Runnels, and County commissioner Dan Nichols.

In order to successfully accomplish our mission, we will need any and all Americans to PEACEFULLY assemble within Burns, Oregon immediately. The success of this mission depends fully on the number of people that will come to PEACEFULLY stand and demand the items above be initiated.

A letter of intent will be legally served on the FBI special agent in charge at the time of Lavoy Finicum's death, Judge Steven Grasty, Sheriff David Ward, Dan Nichols and Pete Runnels by January 29th, 2016. We will request to escort the FBI presence out of Harney County, Oregon and once complete, the attention will return to the resignation of the County elected officials.

PPN is dedicated to a PEACEFUL operation. If you have any ill intent, please do not come. We do not need you. Please come prepared with civilian attire and adhere to the policy of no long guns within the community.

Please come self sufficient and able to care for yourself for the time you plan to stay. Donations arrive daily but they are not sustainable for a large or lengthy contingency.

We ask that you email us at volunteer@pacificpatriotsnetwork.comg if and when you are planning to come and stand in Burns, Oregon.

Peaceful. No long guns. Good luck with that.

PREVIOUSLY: "Bundy Militia Supporters Protest at Harney County Courthouse, Calling Lavoy Finicum's 'Death a Murder'."

Bundy Militia Supporters Protest at Harney County Courthouse, Calling Lavoy Finicum's 'Death a Murder'

Here's Jennifer Dowling, of KOIN News 6, on Twitter, "Group of protesters stands outside Harney Co. Courthouse, calls Lavoy Finicum's death a 'murder'."

Previous Malheur blogging is here.

Donald Trumps Gloats, Ted Cruz 'Got Pummeled' at the GOP Debate (VIDEO)

Heh.

Gotta love the boxing metaphor from the casino mogul.

He's glad he missed the debate.



More, at WSJ, "Donald Trump Calls Ted Cruz ‘Anchor Baby’ in Latest Eligibility Jab."

Bac Duong, Orange County Jail Escapee, Taken Back Into Custody (VIDEO)

He turned himself in.

One down two to go.

At the O.C. Register, "Orange County jail escape: Bac Duong, one of the three escaped inmates, in custody":

Bac Duong, one of the three inmates who escaped from the Orange County Men’s Central Jail, turned himself in Friday morning, said Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens.

Duong, 43, was arrested about 11:50 a.m. after he got in touch with a woman in Santa Ana. He was arrested without incident near the Auto Electric Rebuilders shop at 1421 N. Harbor Blvd.

Trin Nguyen, whose father-in-law owns the shop, said Duong walked into the building and told his wife that he wanted to turn himself in. He said his wife seemed scared. She called police.

Nguyen, who has known Duong for 10 years, said “he's a good friend of mine, he's a good person. I think he was scared. He just showed up and told my wife.”

Other employees at the store also spoke to the throng of media:

[VIDEOS EMBEDDED AT THE STORY.]

The other inmates – Hossein Nayeri and Jonathan Tieu – were not arrested and are still fugitives. After the arrest, investigators conducted a car-by-car search in the Auto Electric Rebuilders parking lot with their guns drawn. They are also searching an adjacent motel.

Duong had been held on an attempted murder charge after a shooting in Santa Ana in November.

Investigators said Duong stole a car on Saturday, and they believe all three inmates were living in the white utility van. That GMC van is still missing...

More.

CNN's been giving the O.C. jailbreak story more airtime than the Malheur siege. I don't know, but white militiamen probably aren't going to get as much sympathy from the network's leftists than the other two suspects, who're Iranian and Vietnamese (hardly oppressed minority groups, but still).

Izabel Goulart at Paris Fashion Week

A short break from the Oregon standoff.

At WWTDD, "Izabel Goulart Delicious Sideboob and Shit Around the Web."

And at London's Daily Mail, "Izabel Goulart displays plenty of sideboob in risqué plum dress at Valentino… after wowing in a series of stunning outfits at Paris Fashion Week."

She's classy.

Malheur Militiaman Sean Anderson Has 'Extensive History of Criminal Convictions', Including Resisting Arrest

Following-up, "LATEST: #Malheur Holdouts Reject FBI Surrender Deal: Sandy Anderson Won't Leave Husband Sean."

The word's now that Sean Anderson's become the leader of the remaining holdouts at the compound.

He's the one seen earlier this week in the bizarre livestream, "'They're Going to Murder All of Us!' — #Malheur Occupiers Livestream Siege at Wildlife Refuge (VIDEO)."

He and his wife also posted that "last dance" video, which gives you some insight to their state of mind, "WATCH: Sean and Sandy Anderson, Husband and Wife Occupiers at #Malheur, Post 'Last Dance' Video."

While David Fry's clearly not right in his head, Anderson's probably more worried about doing a serious time in federal prison, and is perhaps intent to make the siege into an apocalyptic last stand. He's got a long history with the criminal justice system, and who knows? Maybe he'll attempt to resist going back in by any means necessary.

See the Portland Oregonian, "Four holdouts want charge dropped for one to end occupation":

Officials from the U.S. Marshals Service wouldn't comment on whether there was an outstanding warrant for Anderson's arrest, and the FBI didn't respond to a request for information.

But court records show Anderson has an extensive history of criminal convictions in Wisconsin.

He has an outstanding bench warrant related to an August 2014 arrest. Anderson was charged with resisting an officer, possession of THC and possession of drug paraphernalia, all misdemeanors.

Wisconsin court records show Anderson was convicted of misdemeanor disorderly conduct in 1998, 2008 and 2009. He was convicted of criminal trespassing in 2002.

The court documents and Anderson's Facebook page indicate he lives in Janesville, Wisconsin. Anderson wears a vest with a patch from Wisconsin III%, a patriot group, in his Facebook photo. Field & Stream magazine reported that Anderson and his wife recently moved to Riggins, Idaho.

Anderson owns Hurricane Outdoor Supply, which lists a Riggins address on Facebook. The company sells camping, hiking, hunting, survival and tactical gear.

Anderson has posted prolifically to Facebook. At 3:14 a.m. Wednesday, he wrote: "My last words ..... Woop woop." It appeared to be a reference to losing cellphone service.

In Fry's live-stream video, Anderson yelled, "They're going to murder all of us," referring to the FBI and other officers who began surrounding the refuge.

"American people better wake up and get here and fight for your country right now, it is on," he said. "If they stop you from getting here, kill them."

Anderson appeared in a video Fry posted Thursday morning that was called "Update: Maybe Last Dance? Husband and Wife."

He and his wife danced slowly to "Tangled Up in You," a song by Staind blasting out of the door of a nearby pickup, with an American flag on a pole laid up against the side.

Both Andersons are dressed in camo gear, Sean Anderson with a small copy of the Constitution tucked in his chest pocket. Cases of water and beer rested near their feet, surrounded in sagebrush. Another American flag was wedged among rocks nearby.

After the dance, Sean Anderson turned to the camera, sniffling. "We want to live," he said.

"We're free Americans," he said. "This isn't Nazi Germany. We don't need checkpoints. We don't need felony charges."

Anderson said he and the others were simply camping in the desert, hurting no one.

The holdouts' families, however, are concerned that their loved ones may get hurt.

Check back for continued coverage...

LATEST: #Malheur Holdouts Reject FBI Surrender Deal: Sandy Anderson Won't Leave Husband Sean

The siege continues.

Previously, "LATEST: Malheur Holdout David Fry Posts New Video; Refusing to Surrender, Demanding Pardon (VIDEO)," and "WATCH: Sean and Sandy Anderson, Husband and Wife Occupiers at #Malheur, Post 'Last Dance' Video."

Now, at Oregon Public Broadcasting, "Militants Say Negotiations With FBI Stall At Malheur Refuge":

.@OPB has obtained audio from inside the compound currently -- we'll give an update at noon.

— John Sepulvado (@JohnLGC) January 29, 2016

Sean Anderson says LaVoy Finicum's death is like "another waco." Says he's "ready for them."

— John Sepulvado (@JohnLGC) January 29, 2016

Wow. Sandy Anderson says Sean told her to leave, she refused. everyone was ready to go. she wouldn't leave him. Jeff & David then stayed.

— John Sepulvado (@JohnLGC) January 29, 2016

it also seems that while david fry is the most vocal, but sean is now the leader.

— John Sepulvado (@JohnLGC) January 29, 2016

They're calling on ppl from throughout the country to come to Harney County.

— John Sepulvado (@JohnLGC) January 29, 2016

A deal w/FBI was almost in place Thurs., but Sandy Anderson decided not to leave husband Sean. https://t.co/K5f8A9huYC #Oregonstandoff

— Amanda Peacher (@amandapeacher) January 29, 2016

OPB obtained audio of a conversation Friday morning from one of the four remaining occupiers of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

The remaining militants inside are David Fry of Blanchester, Ohio, husband and wife Sean and Sandy Anderson of Janesville, Wisconsin, and Jeff Banta of Elko, Nevada.

During the conversation, Sean Anderson said the group is not going to negotiate with the FBI at this time, and they are prepared to wait until all their supplies are depleted.

He also said that the militants don’t plan to shoot at law enforcement unless they are shot at first.

According to the conversation and other details obtained from Fry’s family members, a deal with the FBI seemed to be in place Thursday, but it required Sean Anderson to turn himself in to the police. His wife, Sandy, refused to leave him.

Fry and Banta were said to have accepted the negotiated deal, but because of Sandy Anderson’s refusal, the four made a pact to stay together until the end of the standoff.

In a new video released Friday, Fry said he and the other militants were testing the negotiation boundaries when they asked the FBI to be released without charges...

Still more.

Anderson and Fry are freakin' crazy bastards, and armed to the teeth, because something like 20 additional firearms were left behind at the compound yesterday amid the mass of activity.

As always, expect updates...

LATEST: Judge Stacie F. Beckerman Won't Release Bundy Defendants as Long as Malheur Siege Continues (VIDEO)

And the siege is continuing, alright.

Previously, "#Malheur: Last Four Militia Members Are 'Desperate', Heavily Armed — Won't Leave Without Guarantees," and "LATEST: Malheur Holdout David Fry Posts New Video; Refusing to Surrender, Demanding Pardon (VIDEO)."

And here the latest, at the Portland Oregonian, "Judge won't release Oregon standoff defendants as long as refuge occupation continues":

A federal judge made it clear Thursday that she won't release any of the alleged federal conspirators accused in the armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge as long as the occupation is still active.

"So long as that situation is ongoing, I'm not going to release anybody from custody,'' U.S. Magistrate Judge Stacie F. Beckerman said during the first court appearance for three more people charged in the case.

The continued occupation only increases the defendants' danger to public safety and risk of flight, Beckerman said.

Her remarks in court followed a public statement a couple of hours earlier from jailed protest leader Ammon Bundy for the holdouts to go home. One of his attorneys read Bundy's statement outside the federal courthouse.

The latest federal complaint involved Jason Patrick, 43, of Bonaire, Georgia, Duane Leo Ehmer, 45, of Irrigon, and Dylan Anderson, 34, of Provo, Utah,, all arrested Wednesday by the FBI at checkpoints outside the refuge as they were leaving.

They're among 11 people charged so far with the federal offense of conspiracy to impede federal officers from their official duties through use of force, intimidation or threats.

After siege leaders were arrested Tuesday and occupation spokesman Robert "LaVoy" Finicum was fatally shot, the FBI and state police directed all remaining protesters at the bird sanctuary to leave, according to the complaint's affidavit.

Patrick, Ehmer and Anderson remained...

Still more.

Expect updates...

LATEST: Malheur Holdout David Fry Posts New Video; Refusing to Surrender, Demanding Pardon (VIDEO)

Here's the latest on the siege, from OPB's John Sepulvado, "militants spoke to fbi today -- david fry says first demand about meeting with fed prosecutors hasn't been met," and "shorter david fry: the only chance we have to escape, get a pardon, is in a group."

Fry's apparently citing President Bill Clinton's pardon of big-money Democrat donor Marc Rich, who was pardoned on January 20, 2001, just moments before Clinton left office.

It's a good bet that Fry's on drugs right now. Seriously, he's talking a mile-a-minute at the video.

Commenters at the YouTube clip are snarking that he's on meth.

PREVIOUSLY: "Armed Militiaman David Fry, Among Last Holdouts at Malheur Reserve, Says He's Prepared to Die in Siege," and "#Malheur: Last Four Militia Members Are 'Desperate', Heavily Armed — Won't Leave Without Guarantees."

Keep checking back for updates throughout the day.

Reaching for Waistband? Slow-Motion Footage Shows Moments Leading to LeVoy Finicum Killing (VIDEO)

The FBI tried mighty hard to tamp down "inaccurate, some inflammatory" versions of the shooting on U.S. 395.

Previously, "Dramatic Footage Shows FBI and OSP Ambush LaVoy Finicum, Shoot and Kill Reaching for Waistband (VIDEO)."

The Portland Oregonian's now got a story on the failure of the agency to quash conspiracies surround the death of LaVoy Finicum.

See, "Video of LaVoy Finicum's death fuels rampant rumors, debate":

BURNS -- In a rare move, the FBI on Thursday released footage of Robert "LaVoy" Finicum's fatal shooting two days earlier at the hands of Oregon State Police troopers.

It's unusual for law enforcement agencies to release video footage of police shootings so quickly. Doing so, FBI officials hoped, would dispel rumors about Finicum's death.

Instead, the debate grew louder.

For those inclined to believe the police account of the shooting – that Finicum was shot after resisting arrest on a remote highway between Burns and John Day – the grainy, soundless video offered confirmation.

But for those who believed a different account – that Finicum had his hands up in surrender when police killed him – the video stoked more furor.

People argued on social media, in the comments sections, in the aisles of the local Safeway and over meals at McDonald's. Did the video offer clear evidence that police were justified in shooting Finicum, or were doubters right to use the words "murder" and "execution?"

What is clear: During an Oregon State Police and FBI operation to arrest Finicum and several other leaders of the standoff at Malheur National Wildife Refuge, authorities stopped two vehicles traveling north on U.S. 395.

Inside were eight people, including several key members of the group that seized the wildlife refuge headquarters on Jan. 2.

Three people inside the Jeep – including Ammon Bundy, the son of controversial rancher Cliven Bundy and a leader of the refuge takeover -- were arrested.

From a white truck driven by Finicum, occupation leader Ryan Payne also emerged to surrender. The truck stayed idle for several minutes, then Finicum sped away.

After two bends in the road, he encountered a police roadblock and veered into a snowbank. The truck was stuck. Finicum emerged with arms outstretched, then lowered them and appeared to reach left into his jacket pocket. He raised his hands again, then reached again into the pocket. Police shot him, and he fell onto his back.

Finicum raised his right hand, then lay still as police focused on removing three remaining passengers from the truck.

"We did everything we could to bring this to a peaceful resolution," said Greg Bretzing, a special agent in charge with the FBI.

That did little to allay doubters' concerns...

Keep reading.

There're additional investigations underway, and no doubt we'll have the release of further video evidence, including both body-cams and dash-cams.

Check back here for all the latest on the siege.

Weekend Storm to Dump Lots More Rain and Snow in California's Sierra Nevadas (VIDEO)

Heh.

The leftist climate fear-mongers won't have the "drought" to use as a collective hammer this year. The El Niño weather pattern's blasting the Southwestern U.S. with all kinds of precipitation.

Previously, "El Niño's Helping, But Still a Ways to Go."

And here's an update, from KCRW News 3 Sacramento:

VIDEO: LaVoy Finicum Talks About Caring for #Maleur Refuge Property

Following-up from earlier today, "FBI Releases Footage Shot from Aircraft Showing Police Chase of LaVoy Finicum in Rural Oregon."

Watch, via the Portland Oregonian:



I've got updates from Malheur in the pipeline. The remaining occupiers may have turned down a chance to leave peacefully.

Stay tuned.

Footage Shows Victoria Sharp Surrendering to Police After LaVoy Finicum Killing — #Malheur (VIDEO)

Following-up from previously, "Footage Shows Ryan Payne Surrendering to Police After LaVoy Finicum Killing — #Malheur (VIDEO)."

Watch, here's another clip, via the Portland Oregonian, "This excerpt shows Victoria Sharp surrendering to the FBI and OSP."

And check back for more breaking updates throughout the day.

Meanwhile, at OPB, "Day 28 of Malheur occupation: 5 things you need to know."

Footage Shows Ryan Payne Surrendering to Police After LaVoy Finicum Killing — #Malheur (VIDEO)

Following-up from previously, "Footage Shows Ryan Bundy Surrendering to Police After LaVoy Finicum Killing — #Malheur (VIDEO)."

Watch more footage, via the Portland Oregonian, "Watch this excerpt showing Ryan Payne surrending after LaVoy Finicum was murdered."

Check back for updates. It turns out David Fry just woke up. They've got it terribly bad up there, lol!

Footage Shows Ryan Bundy Surrendering to Police After LaVoy Finicum Killing — #Malheur (VIDEO)

Following-up from earlier, "FBI Releases Footage Shot from Aircraft Showing Police Chase of LaVoy Finicum in Rural Oregon."

Here's more, via the Portland Oregonian, "The FBI released video footage of the traffic stop that ended in the death of Robert Finicum, one of the spokesmen for the armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. This excerpt shows Ryan Bundy getting out his car."

Check back for updates throughout the day.

Media personnel are trying to make contact with David Fry at the Malheur compound. He's not been answering his calls, although power remains on at the headquarters.

English as Second Language Teacher Arrested in O.C. Jailbreak Case (VIDEO)

At the O.C. Register, "O.C. jail escape: Lake Forest teacher, who worked in lockup, is arrested in breakout":

An English as a Second Language teacher from the Rancho Santiago Community College District who worked in the jail has been arrested in connection with the escape of three inmates, Orange County Sheriff's Lt. Jeff Hallock said Thursday.

Nooshafarin Ravaghi, 44, of Lake Forest is accused of helping the three inmates escape, aiding them by bringing Google Maps, which Hallock said might be useful because they show the roof of the jail. The three inmates, Hossein Nayeri, Jonathan Tieu and Bac Duong, rappelled from the roof last Friday when they escaped.

Ravaghi denied bringing cutting tools into the jail, Hallock said.

Hallock said Ravaghi and one of the escapees, Hossein Nayeri, had a student-teacher relationship that “developed into a closer relationship.” She had been cleared to teach at the jail since July of 2015.

Hallock said as many as 10 arrests have been made, but the three escapees are still at large. Authorities have not released names of the people arrested because they don’t want to hinder the investigation.

Investigators believe the three escapees stole a utility van Saturday in the South Los Angeles area.

“Investigators feel strongly that these inmates may be living out of this vehicle,” Hallock said.

On Saturday, Duong answered a for-sale advertisement for a white GMC Savanna, took the car for a test drive and didn’t return the car, Hallock said. The van’s license plate number is 8U66466...

More.

PREVIOUSLY: "Experts Question Detention and Security Protocols at Orange County Jail."

The Iowa Caucuses Through Sabato's Crystal Ball

An analysis, from Larry Sabato and Kyle Kondik, "Iowa: At Last: Who is favored to win, and what will the results tell us?":

As the 2016 presidential race officially begins, both party contests are in a place that we, and many others, did not expect them to be. On the Democratic side, frontrunner Hillary Clinton faces a stern challenge from a stronger-than-expected foe, Bernie Sanders. And the Republicans could be on the verge of nominating Donald Trump. Still, no votes have been cast. Pulling down the curtain on a contest yet to begin is both premature and foolish.

Here’s how we’re looking at Iowa right now on both sides.

With just a few days to go before the Monday caucuses, we believe Clinton is decently positioned to survive Iowa. Momentum and excitement appear to be more on Sanders’ side, but he may be over-reliant on a base of supporters that are not well distributed throughout the state and a bit less likely to turn out at the level he needs, as we explain further below. If despite all this, Clinton still comes up short, let’s not forget that Iowa’s Democratic activists are overwhelmingly white and somewhat more liberal than in many other states where Clinton will be favored due to strong minority backing. So a Clinton loss here is far from fatal.

For the Republicans, the late momentum (at least as this is written) appears to be Donald Trump’s, and he has built a modest edge in the kickoff contest. The GOP’s leadership, faced with a choice between the devil and the deep blue sea (Trump and Ted Cruz) from their establishment perspective, seem to favor the flexible Republican Trump over the ideologue Cruz, at least for now. We still have questions about Trump’s ability to get his supporters to caucus locations on Monday, but if he can jump that hurdle, he may only grow in strength in the state contests to come.

As we know from previous elections, polls in Iowa routinely miss the mark, and late surges can produce unexpected results. Both party electorates are still in flux, and we can only offer our best guesses about the situation 100 hours before Iowa votes, and in advance of a potentially important Fox News Republican debate on Thursday night — a debate that Trump apparently has decided to skip.

It’s unclear what effects this might have on the race. Trump’s absence (assuming there isn’t a last-minute reentry) diminishes the importance of the final pre-Iowa debate, removes Trump as the on-stage target for seven opponents (all of whom would be shooting bullets at the frontrunner), makes Trump even more the center of attention, and provides an alternative event for his followers to watch and other networks to cover in order to poach audience from the debate. So perhaps it’s another Trump master stroke — unless Iowans feel dissed by the maneuver or think Trump’s behavior signals instability that doesn’t match the demands of the Oval Office. Marginal changes in voter attitudes can easily have a decisive impact on the very competitive Iowa battle.

In any event, the overall Iowa picture, as best we can determine it...

That's a nice and interesting analysis, although perhaps overthinking the issue with regard to Donald Trump.

I expect Donald Trump to win on the basis of momentum, which might have been slowed a little by last night's debate diss, but not much. The ground game's going to be decisive, and on that I have no clue, as I've said before. Ted Cruz looked a little musty at the debate last night, from what I've seen of it on video. And he may have been trying too hard to stand out in the crowd minus the big guy Trump. In any case, as noted, I trust the polls. Trump's been consistently ahead in Iowa for a least two weeks. I would discount those seeing double-digit leads, but those with large single-digit leads have been numerous. Recall yesterday's poll out from WSJ and Marist, which had Trump at 32 to 25 percent over Cruz, which seems like a relative margin that's been pretty stable in various surveys. They could always be wrong, but then that'd be a systemic and industry-level crisis problem in polling. I hope it doesn't come to that.

As for Hillary Clinton, she's sweating but I expect she'll still win. I don't pay as much attention to the Democrat race, though. So we'll see. We'll see.

More at the Crystal Ball, in any case.

Four of Twitter's Top Executives Are Leaving (VIDEO)

I saw something on this the other day, but I've been too busy blogging the Malheur siege to think about it.

Interesting though.

In any case, at CBS News 13 Sacramento:


More, at Re/code, "Twitter's Nathan Hubbard Will Take Over Interim Media Job Amid Executive Changes."

Police Searching for Man Who's Been Grabbing Women's Butts (VIDEO)

Well, it's some black thug, but seriously. I'm sure they'll be searching for a long time.

 "Grabbing women's butts"? No doubt that's not an uncommon phenomenon.

At ABC News 15 Phoenix:

FBI Releases Footage Shot from Aircraft Showing Police Chase of LaVoy Finicum in Rural Oregon

Following-up, "Dramatic Footage Shows FBI and OSP Ambush LaVoy Finicum, Shoot and Kill Reaching for Waistband (VIDEO)."

Here's the MSM coverage at the New York Times, "F.B.I. Releases Video Showing Death of Oregon Refuge Occupier":

BURNS, Ore. — The F.B.I. took the extraordinary step of releasing surveillance video on Thursday showing the shooting death of LaVoy Finicum, a member of the armed occupation of a federal wildlife refuge here in eastern Oregon, as the occupation continued by a handful of followers.

Mr. Finicum, 54, was killed Tuesday by Oregon State Police troopers, said Greg Bretzing, the special agent in charge for the F.B.I in Oregon, after he tried to run through a police barricade on a wooded road, then climbed from his truck and, Mr. Bretzing said, reached for a weapon in his jacket pocket.

“There are various versions of what occurred during this event: most inaccurate, some inflammatory,” Mr. Bretzing said, before playing the video — shot from an aircraft — at a news conference. “To that end, we want to do what we can to lay out an honest and unfiltered view of what happened and how it happened.”

Mr. Bretzing stressed the investigation of the shooting was continuing. But he said the officers fired on Mr. Finicum’s truck as it sped toward a roadblock and went off the road into a snowbank, and then again after he left the vehicle. He said the total number of shots fired was “in the single digits.”

In the video, Mr. Finicum is shown with his hands raised at one point, but Mr. Bretzing said it also showed him reaching for a weapon.

“On at least two occasions, Finicum reaches his right hand toward a pocket on the left inside portion of his jacket. He did have a loaded 9 mm semiautomatic handgun in that pocket,” Mr. Bretzing said.

The occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge has lasted nearly four weeks and captured international attention even before Mr. Finicum’s death, in an arrest operation that captured the group’s leader, Ammon Bundy, who was traveling in another vehicle and who surrendered, with his brother, Ryan, and three other followers, without incident.

Mr. Bundy, held in jail in Portland, pleaded Thursday for those remaining at the refuge to give up peacefully. Mr. Bretzing said that number was now down to four.

“Turn yourselves in and do not use physical force,” Mr. Bundy, the leader of the occupation, said in a statement released by his lawyers. “Use the national platform we have to continue to defend liberty through our constitutional rights.”

Still more.

Dramatic Footage Shows FBI and OSP Ambush LaVoy Finicum, Shoot and Kill Reaching for Waistband (VIDEO)

Following-up from yesterday afternoon, "WATCH: Official FBI Video Shows Oregon State Trooper Shooting #Malheur Militiaman LaVoy Finicum."

Here's the newscast from KOIN News 6 yesterday, with a moment-to-moment narration:



Also, "WATCH: FBI Press Conference Video of LaVoy Finicum Being Shot by Oregon State Police - #Malheur."

'Already Mattel has received backlash from social justice warriors complaining there are no disabled Barbie dolls included in the new release...'

Heh.

This is good, from Ashe Schow, at the Washington Examiner, "Barbie has a new body, but was it necessary?"

WATCH: FBI Press Conference Video of LaVoy Finicum Being Shot by Oregon State Police - #Malheur

Following-up, "LeVoy Finicum Update: Press Conference — Statement of Greg Bretzing, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Portland," and "WATCH: Official FBI Video Shows Oregon State Trooper Shooting #Malheur Militiaman LaVoy Finicum."

Here's the video shown during the press conference this afternoon, via the Portland Oregonian's Beth Nakamura, "Law enforcement prepare to project from computer (r) to tv screen at FBI presser, so running a few minutes behind."

Ouch! Megyn Kelly Hammers Ted Cruz on Past Immigration Policy Hypocrisy – #GOPDebate (VIDEO)

Here's the report at Politico, "Trump-free debate puts Cruz in the hot seat."

At watch, via Fox News. Cruz's gets both defensive and angry:

Jackie Johnson's Got Your Friday Forecast

She's so lovely and peaceful, especially considering that I've been blogging ugliness and violence all day.

At CBS News 2 Los Angeles:

#Malheur: Last Four Militia Members Are 'Desperate', Heavily Armed — Won't Leave Without Guarantees

According to FBI Special Agent in Charge Greg Bretzing, "I would like to confirm that as of this morning one more person left the refuge through a checkpoint. We believe there are four others who currently remain on the refuge. Since the establishment of checkpoints, a total of nine people have left the refuge. Of those, the FBI released six and arrested three."

Also, from Andrew Dymburt, at KOIN News 6 Portland, "4 militia still occupying refuge. They have demands. include a guarantee they won't be arrested after surrender."

It's David Fry and Sean Anderson, his wife, and one other militia member.

Fry's mentally unstable, it appears. See, "Armed Militiaman David Fry, Among Last Holdouts at Malheur Reserve, Says He's Prepared to Die in Siege."

More at Oregon Public Broadcasting, "Trapped Inside Malheur Refuge, Militants Desperate For Way Out":

OPB’s Think Out Loud talked Thursday with David Fry and Sandy Anderson, two of the remaining militants inside the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

They offered an inside account of the negotiations taking place with the FBI, and the growing anxiety among the militants as tension mounts to make their next step.

“The option is you go out there and they get you and it’s a felony crime and it’s a prison sentence,” Fry told Think Out Loud host Dave Miller. “A lot of us are scared of that option.”

Fry estimates that there are 20 guns in the refuge, left behind during the chaos of militants fleeing.

“We’re not planning on using any guns. Like I said, we [want] to go home,” he said. “But if they want to attack us then we got to defend ourselves.”

Fry said if the FBI tried to arrest him, he would see it as an attack.

Fry's not on speaking terms with his parents, who live in Ohio, and did not want him to travel to the Malheur refuge. John Sepulvado, at OPB, spoke to Bill Fry, David's father, "... i'm not worried he's going to kill himself. he's a 'shock jock.' he would point a gun at a cop, i could see him doing death by cop." (More here and here.)

And see Matt Pearce, at the Los Angeles Times, "FBI releases video of Oregon occupier's shooting by state police":

One of the four remaining occupiers, David Fry, told the Los Angeles Times in a phone interview Thursday afternoon that “we’re willing to leave” but wanted assurances from the FBI that they wouldn’t be charged.

Some occupiers have been allowed to pass through the police checkpoints, but others have been arrested and charged with federal intimidation charges for occupying the refuge.

“Right now the only thing that’s keeping us here is them not being clear with us with what’s going on,” said Fry, adding that the holdouts have been in periodic contact with two law enforcement negotiators.

“They’re saying three of us can leave and if we leave right now, we’ll be fine,” but a fourth member of the group, a man, faces a criminal charge when he leaves the compound, Fry said.

“Everybody’s really skeptical of what’s going on there,” Fry said.

Fry said that he had spoken with his family. “They’re basically just saying to surrender, it’s not worth dying for,” he said.

RTWT.

I'll have additional reporting as information becomes available.

Rick Santorum and Mike Huckabee Speak at Rival Donald Trump Event for Veterans (VIDEO)

It was a brief event, compared to the GOP debate, which just wrapped up a few minutes ago.

I can't watch the debates without Donald Trump. It just feels, well, kinda naked.

LeVoy Finicum Update: Press Conference — Statement of Greg Bretzing, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Portland

Following-up, "WATCH: Official FBI Video Shows Oregon State Trooper Shooting #Malheur Militiaman LaVoy Finicum."

And from the FBI Portland, "Statement by Greg Bretzing, Special Agent in Charge, FBI Portland, 1/28/2016":

We have quite a bit of information to share with you tonight concerning the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

First, I would like to confirm that as of this morning one more person left the refuge through a checkpoint. We believe there are four others who currently remain on the refuge. Since the establishment of checkpoints, a total of nine people have left the refuge. Of those, the FBI released six and arrested three.

Secondly, I would like to confirm that the FBI and Oregon State Police have narrowed the containment zones. This was done to make it more convenient for those who live and work in the immediate area of the refuge to go about their business. To this end, Highway 205 is now open in both directions.

There has been some media reporting that the situation at the refuge is resolved. That is NOT true. Again, we still believe there are occupiers on the refuge. The negotiators continue to work around the clock to talk to those four people in an effort to get them to come out peacefully.

Thirdly, we know there is quite a bit of interest related to the events as they occurred on Highway 395 on Tuesday afternoon. We know there are various versions of what occurred during this event: most inaccurate, some inflammatory. To that end, we want to do what we can to lay out an honest and unfiltered view of what happened and how it happened.

FBI agents and Oregon State Police troopers were involved in this operation. During this operation, OSP troopers utilized deadly force due to their proximity to LaVoy Finicum as the situation unfolded. Because of this, the Deschutes County Major Incident Team is conducting the outside review of the shooting per Oregon State law and established protocols. Because of that on-going investigation, I will not be able to answer every question you have... but hopefully we will give the public some clarity as to what occurred.

At approximately 4:25 pm on Tuesday, January 26, 2016, FBI and OSP began a law enforcement action to bring into custody the people riding in two separate vehicles as they traveled between Burns and John Day. The FBI did have a plane in the air, and what I am about to show you is a video from that plane. A couple of notes about the video before we watch it.

*The plane is following the vehicles, and the camera sometimes pans from one vehicle to the other... a white truck in front and a jeep in back. At other times when the vehicles are in a fixed location, the plane is flying in a pattern over that location. Because of that flight pattern, there are portions where trees obscure what is happening. The details that I am about to provide to you are based both on an analysis of this video and some ground-level observations of agents and troopers on the scene.

*Because the operation lasted more than 25 minutes, we are showing you two of the most pertinent clips today. The entire unedited video from the start of the traffic stop through the surrender of all individuals will be available to the media and the general public on the FBI's YouTube channel.

*Because I am using some very specific language to describe what is happening, the entire transcript of my comments will be posted to www.flashalertbend.net.

*I want to caution you that the video does show the shooting death of LaVoy Finicum. We realize that viewing that piece of the video will be upsetting to some people, but we feel that it is necessary to show the whole thing unedited in the interest of transparency...

Keep reading.

.@FBI released aircraft video of traffic stop and LaVoy Finicum's killing at the presser. #OregonStandoff pic.twitter.com/X3vXftUsSy

— Bradley W. Parks (@Bradley_W_Parks) January 29, 2016

ADDED: From the Portland Oregonian, "Live updates: FBI holds news conference on Oregon standoff."

Bretzing says cops were yelling to exit vehicle for several minutes before Finicum drove off, then exited and got stopped. #Oregonstandoff

— Kelly House (@Kelly_M_House) January 29, 2016

Bretzing: "It was a reckless action that resulted in the consequences that you've seen here today." #Oregonstandoff

— Kelly House (@Kelly_M_House) January 29, 2016

So, the takeaway message from FBI: Finicum didn't exit vehicle when asked. After several minutes w/ cops yelling to people inside to exit...

— Kelly House (@Kelly_M_House) January 29, 2016

Finicum sped truck up the road. He encountered a roadblock, attempted to drive around, rammed into snowbank (narrowly missing cop)...

— Kelly House (@Kelly_M_House) January 29, 2016

Then, Finicum got out of the truck, running out into snow w/ arms up. He then reached into right pocket where he had a loaded 9mm handgun...

— Kelly House (@Kelly_M_House) January 29, 2016

That's when OR State Police shot him. After getting passengers out of vehicle, they gave medical attention. "Single digits" bullets shot.

— Kelly House (@Kelly_M_House) January 29, 2016

FBI video shows LaVoy Finicum with hands up & then reaching over toward right pocket where loaded 9mm handgun was pic.twitter.com/Hk7Syq28vr

— Beth Nakamura (@bethnakamura) January 29, 2016

You can be certain there were body cams, dash cams. Will be part of separate investigation into shooting. https://t.co/Lp3DePWE8L

— Les Zaitz (@LesZaitz) January 29, 2016

Fox News Apologized to Donald Trump (VIDEO)

Here's the clip, from CNN's interview with Mr. Trump moments before the rival veterans' event:



PREVIOUSLY: "Poll Shows Donald Trump Solidifying Lead in Three Early States."

WATCH: Official FBI Video Shows Oregon State Trooper Shooting #Malheur Militiaman LaVoy Finicum

The national networks are focused on the presidential campaign, so there's no coverage of the Malheur press conference.

More information's coming on the shooting of LeVoy Finicum.

My earlier report is here, "FBI and Oregon State Police: LaVoy Finicum 'reached down toward his waistband where he had a gun...'"

And on Twitter now:

BREAKING: CBS News tells KOIN 6 that it was at least 1 OSP trooper who shot LaVoy Finicum. https://t.co/mGwM9ptzyD #KOIN6News

— Brent Weisberg (@BrentKOIN) January 29, 2016

CBS News tells KOIN 6 the FBI will release some of the video from the shooting of LaVoy Finicum. https://t.co/mGwM9ptzyD #KOIN6News

— Brent Weisberg (@BrentKOIN) January 29, 2016

CBS: LaVoy Finicum exited vehicle with his hands up, but is seen on video reaching for his waistband. https://t.co/mGwM9ptzyD #KOIN6News

— Brent Weisberg (@BrentKOIN) January 29, 2016

FBI SAC Greg Bretzing: OSP used deadly force against LaVoy Finicum. https://t.co/mGwM9ptzyD #KOIN6News

— Brent Weisberg (@BrentKOIN) January 29, 2016

FBI SAC Greg Bretzing: The FBI did have a plane in the air during the shooting of LaVoy Finicum. https://t.co/mGwM9ptzyD #KOIN6News

— Brent Weisberg (@BrentKOIN) January 29, 2016

FBI SAC Greg Bretzing: ‘It is necessary to show...[full video]...in the interest of transparency.’ https://t.co/mGwM9ptzyD #KOIN6News

— Brent Weisberg (@BrentKOIN) January 29, 2016

Poll Shows Donald Trump Solidifying Lead in Three Early States

At WSJ, "Donald Trump Solidifies Lead Over GOP Rivals in First States to Vote":

Donald Trump is dominating the GOP presidential field in the first three states to vote in the 2016 campaign, including in Iowa where he has extinguished the lead once held by Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal/Marist Poll finds.

In New Hampshire and South Carolina, Mr. Trump leads by double-digit margins. In all three states he is the first choice of more than 30% of people likely to vote in the Republican primaries or caucuses.

“Trump is positioned to run the house in these first three states,” said Lee M. Miringoff,director of the Marist College Institute of Public Opinion. “His supporters are committed and plan to turn out.”

The poll suggests Mr. Cruz will be his strongest competitor even if the senator has lost ground in Iowa. Mr. Cruz now stands in second place in all three states including New Hampshire, a place that doesn’t typically favor Republicans with his kind of conservative profile.

Among Democrats, the poll points to a roller-coaster ride through the three early-voting states. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont remain deadlocked in Iowa; Mr. Sanders has opened a commanding 57%-38% lead in New Hampshire; in South Carolina, Mrs. Clinton enjoys an even wider 64%-27% spread.

The polls demonstrate that Mr. Trump and Mrs. Clinton remain their party’s front-runners. While Mrs. Clinton has a rougher road than Mr. Trump in Iowa and New Hampshire, South Carolina gives her a “firewall,” Mr. Miringoff said.

The Iowa poll found, with less than a week before Monday’s caucuses, that Mr. Trump is the leading Mr. Cruz by 32%-25%, after weeks of pummeling his rival by questioning the Canadian-born senator’s eligibility to be president, his personality and character. Earlier this month, Mr. Cruz had led 28%-24% in Iowa, the state that represents his best shot to block the billionaire businessman.

What’s more, the poll found that Mr. Trump has inspired deep support: three-quarters of Trump backers in Iowa say they are strongly committed to their choice of candidate, compared with only 58% of Cruz supporters. Similar gaps show up among voters in New Hampshire and South Carolina.

Showing quiet improvement in Iowa is Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida who came in third with 18%—a five-point improvement over the early January poll. But he has slipped in New Hampshire, and dropped behind Mr. Cruz to third place. In the Granite State, Mr. Trump leads with 31%, to Mr. Cruz’s 12% and Mr. Rubio’s 11%. The South Carolina poll finds the same three candidates topping the GOP field.

Among Democrats, the Iowa poll is little changed from the neck-and-neck finish found earlier this month. Mrs. Clinton drew 48% to Mr. Sanders’s 45%. Former Maryland Gov.Martin O’Malley, remains in the low single digits in all three states...

More at NBC News, "Trump Strong in Early States as Clinton, Sanders Battle: Poll."

And at Marist, "1/28: Trump Leads in IA, NH, and SC… Clinton and Sanders Competitive in IA, Sanders up in NH, Clinton Leads in SC."

LATEST: Officials Confirm LaVoy Finicum Death; 'Active Situation' at #Malheur; Press Conference Tonight — UPDATED!

UPDATE: The FBI's released the video of the police shooting of LaVoy Finicum.

Here, "WATCH: FBI Video Shows Oregon State Trooper Shooting #Malheur Militiaman LaVoy Finicum."

*****

Following-up from previously, "UPDATE: Press Conference at 5:30pm Pacific — #OregonStandoff Ends: Massive Government Convoy Descends on Refuge; Militiamen Taken Away (PHOTOS)."

Here's the latest via Twitter. This is developing:

Oregon State ME officially confirms the death of Robert LaVoy Finicum, won't release autopsy results. https://t.co/DhT2QHtBPa #KOIN6News

— Brent Weisberg (@BrentKOIN) January 29, 2016

All we can confirm about refuge is HEAVY police presence. We saw large convoy of vehicles head towards the refuge #Oregonstandoff @KOINNews

— Andrew Dymburt (@DymburtNews) January 29, 2016

This is very much an active situation unfolding before us. Be sure to stay with @KOINNews and stream on https://t.co/hsokpUkY59 for latest

— Andrew Dymburt (@DymburtNews) January 29, 2016

A state law enforcement officer tells @OPB says there will be news from the refuge soon.

— John Sepulvado (@JohnLGC) January 29, 2016

.@OPB just spoke to Bill Fry, David Fry's dad. Says son just called family. Told him he's still at the compound with three others

— John Sepulvado (@JohnLGC) January 29, 2016

The police checkpoint on Highway 205 has been removed and the highway is open

— Oregon State Police (@ORStatePolice) January 28, 2016

There are still police check points in the area. The Refuge remains closed. Vehicles should not block the hwy

— Oregon State Police (@ORStatePolice) January 28, 2016

.@JohnLGC says woman who camped between refuge and roadblock had been in communication, possibly helped some surrender #Oregonstandoff

— Ryan Haas (@ryanjhaas) January 29, 2016

Police have called this a "monthlong crime scene" according to @JohnLGC. That means employees can't return for awhile. #Oregonstandoff

— Ryan Haas (@ryanjhaas) January 29, 2016

What just happened is bizarre. State police suddenly removed first barricade. Media swarm raced toward refuge. #Oregonstandoff 1/2

— Amanda Peacher (@amandapeacher) January 29, 2016

...to be met by new rd block, 1 mi from refuge. Law enforcement told @JohnLGC the situation is stable, at least 1 person still in refuge.

— Amanda Peacher (@amandapeacher) January 29, 2016

We also saw FBI agents in an SUV with what looked like 1 civilian come thru road block, abt an hour ago.#Oregonstandoff

— Amanda Peacher (@amandapeacher) January 29, 2016

Expect updates...

Just spoke w/David Fry by phone. He says he's still in refuge with three others. #Oregonstandoff

— Amanda Peacher (@amandapeacher) January 29, 2016

UPDATE: Press Conference at 5:30pm Pacific — #OregonStandoff Ends: Massive Government Convoy Descends on Refuge; Militiamen Taken Away (PHOTOS)

Welcome Instapundit readers!

This story is developing. See, "LATEST: Officials Confirm LaVoy Finicum Death; 'Active Situation' at #Malheur; Press Conference Tonight."

MORE: "WATCH: Official FBI Video Shows Oregon State Trooper Shooting #Malheur Militiaman LaVoy Finicum."

*******

SCOLL DOWN FOR UPDATES. SIEGE IS CONTINUING.

*****

It looks like the remaining militia members have agreed to surrender. There's no confirmation yet, but signs indicate the standoff is winding down.

From various sources, on Twitter. I'll update with more throughout the night:

Photos from the scene where a massive convoy of 30+ law enforcement vehicles drove by @reviewjournal #OregonStandoff pic.twitter.com/M8cmrMszng

— Chase Stevens (@CSStevensphoto) January 28, 2016

Nearly hr since law enforcement convoy caused a stir among media at refuge roadblock. All quiet on this side. #Oregonstandoff #BurnsOR

— Dylan J Darling (@DylanJDarling) January 28, 2016

Couple police squad cars and a SUV sped away from the roadblock, back toward #BurnsOR. Hard to say what traffic means. #OregonStandoff

— Dylan J Darling (@DylanJDarling) January 28, 2016

@ 1:15, a large convoy just passed us heading SB on HWY 205 possibly heading to the Malheur NWR. #LiveOnK2 pic.twitter.com/B2668FQFrR

— Corry Young (@photocorry) January 28, 2016

Already, effort has begun to recruit people to clean up once the occupiers leave. @TheOregonDesert is seeking volunteers. #Oregonstandoff

— Kelly House (@Kelly_M_House) January 28, 2016

Welp. Cops, sirens ablaze, just turned @bethnakamura and I away from Crane area roadblock. "You need to go." #Oregonstandoff

— Kelly House (@Kelly_M_House) January 28, 2016

And in Crane, bunch a cops barked us away from blockade. Wonder what's up. #Oregonstandoff https://t.co/zIWGFoAEMk

— Kelly House (@Kelly_M_House) January 28, 2016

A convoy of about 30 vehicles has arrived at the refuge. State trooper blocking the road. #OregonStandoff pic.twitter.com/YlDfrNnTfi

— Bradley W. Parks (@Bradley_W_Parks) January 28, 2016

Law enforcement vehicles seen leaving the refuge. Unclear if remaining militants have surrendered. https://t.co/SNYrfwNRhG

— OPB News (@OPBnews) January 28, 2016

Occupiers are leaving. @JohnLGC is on the scene with constant updates. @OPBnews #Oregonstandoff

— Sarah Rothenfluch (@SarahOPB) January 28, 2016

Tune in for a live update from the #Oregonstandoff as the end nears with @OPBnews at 3:13 pm -- live stream at https://t.co/WonssAYIcS

— Sarah Rothenfluch (@SarahOPB) January 28, 2016

Two large trucks have entered the refuge now. #Oregonstandoff pic.twitter.com/3X0acRDZbm

— Ryan Haas (@ryanjhaas) January 28, 2016

Expect updates...

More:

FBI has cleared the roadblock to the refuge. @JohnLGC @amandapeacher heading toward the refuge now.

— Ryan Haas (@ryanjhaas) January 28, 2016

racing to refuge. standoff must be over. will report back in moments

— Pat Dooris (@PatDooris) January 28, 2016

Heading in to refuge pic.twitter.com/QcdaePLR7K

— Pat Dooris (@PatDooris) January 28, 2016

Press convoy to wildlife refuge pic.twitter.com/QkfOsbn7Zs

— Pat Dooris (@PatDooris) January 28, 2016

Stopped short of refuge. Threat of arrest pic.twitter.com/pP14pvTXSY

— Pat Dooris (@PatDooris) January 28, 2016

Oregon state police saying everyone past this road block will be arrested. #LiveOnK2 pic.twitter.com/35BFGdR4r0

— Cory Marshall (@CoryMarshallTV) January 28, 2016

LEO says at least one person still inside. but called the scene "secure"

— Ryan Haas (@ryanjhaas) January 28, 2016

.@amandapeacher reports medical vans at the new blockade just outside the refuge. at least one militant still inside #Oregonstandoff

— Ryan Haas (@ryanjhaas) January 28, 2016

UPDATE:

I'm talking to one of the Oregon occupiers still inside the refuge, David Fry. He says no one among the final four has surrendered.

— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) January 28, 2016

Fry tells me in a phone interview the four remaining occupiers want to leave but have been told one of them, Sean, faces a criminal charge.

— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) January 29, 2016

Occupier David Fry tells me, "We’re willing to leave, they won’t let us go home."

— Matt Pearce (@mattdpearce) January 29, 2016

BREAKING: Press conference at 5:30pm @HarneyCoSheriff regarding #Oregonstandoff @KOINNews will continue to give updates, stay tuned

— Andrew Dymburt (@DymburtNews) January 29, 2016

There will be a press conference at 5:30 pm on 1/28/16 at the Harney County Chamber of Commerce. Media may start setting up at 5:00 pm.

— FBI Portland (@FBIPortland) January 29, 2016

Fry says their cars are packed and they're ready to go but want FBI assurances that there'll be no arrests. #Oregonstandoff

— Amanda Peacher (@amandapeacher) January 29, 2016

Here's the Spot Along U.S. 395 Where LaVoy Finicum Ambushed, Gunned Down by FBI (PHOTOS)

From Luke Hammil, at the Portland Oregonian, "The spot where Finicum died, Bundy arrested: twisting road, dense forest":

#OregonStandoff: The spot where Finicum died, Bundy arrested: twisting road, dense forest https://t.co/J9e2FqvTIU pic.twitter.com/UxhZiYA6nb

— Luke Hammill (@lucashammill) January 28, 2016

BURNS — The spot where police shot Robert "LaVoy" Finicum and arrested Ammon Bundy differs markedly from the open rangeland that the militants occupied for nearly a month. The showdown played out in a dense forest along a twisting, shadowy and narrow road.

A day later, the scene still showed evidence of the shooting: broken glass littered the pavement and tire tracks on a snowbank indicated that one driver – perhaps Finicum, as a witness claimed – tried to escape by swerving onto the wrong side of the road.

Orange paint on the ground appeared to show where investigators later noted that vehicles didn't passively pull over to the snowy shoulder.

The place, with an elevation rising about 1,000 feet higher than Burns, is like the set of "an old western movie" – the kind where lawmen would lie in wait for their target, said area businessman Tim Smith, who knows the location well.

In contrast, Bundy and his followers could see for miles around the refuge they took over Jan. 2.

On their many 30-mile drives between Burns and the federal bird sanctuary, they traveled along straight roads and – save for one butte mid-commute – through flat terrain covered in snow and scrub brush.

That changed soon after Bundy, Finicum and six others turned onto U.S. 395 Tuesday afternoon and headed north for Grant County, where they were scheduled to present their views on the federal government and the Constitution to people in John Day.

The road entered Devine Canyon and quickly began to wind and climb into the forest. The FBI and state police pulled up about 4:30 p.m. behind the protesters, who were traveling in a pickup and a Jeep, and stopped them, according to Mark McConnell, who said on Facebook that he was driving the Jeep. More law enforcement officials waited ahead, he said.

Not long after that, Finicum was dead and five militants arrested amid gunfire....

Clint Van Zandt, a former supervisory special agent for the FBI who spent 25 years at the agency, said it "makes all the tactical sense in the world" for police to stop the Bundy convoy where they did. The objective, he said, would be to confront the leaders when they had separated from the rest of their supporters.

"It can be the downside when you can see for miles and miles because you don't want the individuals to see what's happening," Van Zandt said. "You don't want them to see anything. You don't want them to hear anything."

Smith said he's also not surprised that authorities picked the secluded spot. He's not happy that the FBI and state police chose it for what he called "an ambush."

Smith worked with the occupation leaders as a member of the Harney County Committee of Safety, a group formed at Bundy's urging before the refuge takeover. The committee members distanced themselves from Bundy after the siege but nonetheless took up his cause against federal land management.

"This is pretty upsetting for everyone, and it really does affect what I believe are our objectives," Smith said...

More.

Karl Marx's 'Communist Manifesto' is the Most Frequently Assigned Book at U.S. Colleges

Actually, students should read it. They'll see for themselves what a farce it is.

The problem's not the book so much as the professors who're teaching it.

At Truth Revolt, "Marx's 'Communist Manifesto' Most Frequently Taught Text in U.S. Colleges."



Pick up a copy, at Amazon.

Yeah, I know. It's not free. Communists always leave that part out. Free stuff isn't really free. Someone's gotta pay. Shoot, most college students don't even paying for their own copies. Either mom and dad are footing the bill, their college or university foundations, or the taxpayers through financial aid. When you have to start paying your own way is when you really learn how big a crock Marxism is.

Residents of Burns, Oregon, Hope #Malheur Standoff Winds Down Soon — And Peacefully (VIDEO)

Andrew Dymburt reports, for KOIN News 6 Portland.



PREVIOUSLY: "Oregon Democrat Gov. Kate Brown Pushed Obama for 'Swift Action' Against #Malheur Militiamen (VIDEO)."

Rita Ora for 'Lui' Magazine

Heh.

The folks at Lui had to put the little pasties to cover her breasts on Instagram.

But not on Twitter, lol.

Via the Idolator, "Rita Ora is Topless on New 'Lui' Cover: She Frees the Nipple in New Terry Richardson Shoot."

Hat Tip: London's Daily Mail, "Topless Rita Ora puts on a VERY raunchy display as she flashes her assets in her most revealing shoot to date."

Newt Gingrich Says Republican Party's In Period of 'Tremendous Transition' (VIDEO)

It's a good transition. The GOP needs a swift kick in its establishment pants.

Via Fox News:

Oregon Democrat Gov. Kate Brown Pushed Obama for 'Swift Action' Against #Malheur Militiamen (VIDEO)

Here's the Portland Oregonian, "Kate Brown on Oregon standoff: 'Everyone was hoping to avoid bloodshed'."

That's a lie, actually. She was fomenting bloodshed.

See from last week, "Kate Brown presses top federal officials for 'swift' action against occupiers."

Watch at the video. She brought pressure on the feds. She appealed to the "highest levels of authority," including the White House, using extremely belligerent rhetoric that no doubt contributed to LaVoy Vinicum's death.

Notice how she doesn't even pretend to hide her partisan hatred of the ranchers. Who's the "militant" here?



PREVIOUSLY: "Alex Jones: How to Properly Take a Stand Against Tyranny — #MalheurOccupation (VIDEO)."

Alex Jones: How to Properly Take a Stand Against Tyranny — #MalheurOccupation (VIDEO)

InfoWars reporter Joe Biggs is reportedly at the Malheur occupation. You know, while they're conspiracy mongers, some of their reporting is good, for example, on the Central American refugee invasion a couple of years ago.

Here's Alex Jones on the occupation:



PREVIOUSLY: "LATEST: Ammon Bundy Makes New Plea to #Malheur Militiamen: 'Turn yourselves in, do not use physical force...'"

LATEST: Ammon Bundy Makes New Plea to #Malheur Militiamen: 'Turn yourselves in, do not use physical force...'

I'm keeping up with breaking developments in Oregon.

Earlier, "Range War! Central Oregon Constitutional Guard Calls for 'Thousands' of Militiamen to Flood #Malheur!"

And now, the latest from Conrad Wilson and Oregon Public Broadcasting:

Ammon Bundy statement via lawyers: "turn yourselves in, do not use physical force." #Oregonstandoff

— Conrad Wilson (@conradjwilson) January 28, 2016

Bundy's lawyers: "we have spent endless hours for week's meeting with residents in Harney County." #Oregonstandoff pic.twitter.com/aGRfAmF0mV

— Conrad Wilson (@conradjwilson) January 28, 2016

"We only had guns for our protection ... We never wanted bloodshed." Bundy via lawyers. #Oregonstandoff

— Conrad Wilson (@conradjwilson) January 28, 2016

"I morn LaVoy's death," said Ammon Bundy via his lawyers #Oregonstandoff

— Conrad Wilson (@conradjwilson) January 28, 2016

Ammon Bundy's lawyer Mike Arnold said the point at the refuge has been made and now it's time to end the occupation #Oregonstandoff

— Conrad Wilson (@conradjwilson) January 28, 2016

"I will not abandon all that we have accomplished in the name of liberty for the sake of my own personal freedom. ..."

— OPB News (@OPBnews) January 28, 2016

"I am committed to freedom, not force. We are done with the culture of force."

— OPB News (@OPBnews) January 28, 2016

Again, this is a prepared statement from Ammon Bundy, read by his lawyers.

— OPB News (@OPBnews) January 28, 2016

"When we were detained we were traveling to grant County to educate those people of their individual lives."

— OPB News (@OPBnews) January 28, 2016

"We only had guns for our protection and never pointed them at people ... We never wanted bloodshed. We verbalized this many, many times."

— OPB News (@OPBnews) January 28, 2016

Ammon Bundy's lawyer says Ammon desires the occupation to end, for remaining protesters to go home. "Phase 1 of this protest needs to end."

— OPB News (@OPBnews) January 28, 2016

Ammon Bundy's lawyer Mike Arnold: "We do not need to do anything else at the refuge."

— OPB News (@OPBnews) January 28, 2016

Added, from Maxine Bernstein:

Statement read by lawyers in front of federal courthouse in Portland after meeting w/ Ammon Bundy in jail https://t.co/0m7dNA5Glb

— Maxine Bernstein (@maxoregonian) January 28, 2016

Range War! Central Oregon Constitutional Guard Calls for 'Thousands' of Militiamen to Flood #Malheur!

It's increasingly looking like a High Noon situation now, except the militiamen are taking the Will Kane role.

Following-up from a little earlier, "LATEST: Militiamen from Central Oregon Constitutional Guard Arrive to Bolster Occupiers at #Malheur."

Now there's more, from Les Zaitz:

Patriot groups angry over arrest call for thousands to flood Burns. @carlibrosseau reports what triggered the call. https://t.co/23PNL1jq7e

— Les Zaitz (@LesZaitz) January 28, 2016

PREVIOUSLY: "WATCH: Sean and Sandy Anderson, Husband and Wife Occupiers at #Malheur, Post 'Last Dance' Video."