Cliven Bundy stoking Oregon fires?
LAS VEGAS - Controversial cattle rancher Cliven Bundy is preparing to lead a fight against the government again, reports CBS Las Vegas affiliate KLAS-TV.
The station says he released a notice Monday that he sent to an Oregon sheriff telling him to "remove all federal and state policing agents out of Harney County," where a month-long occupation of a federal wildlife refuge by militia memberscontinues.
Last week, Bundy's sons told supporters to back down from the occupation. Now, the elder Bundy is saying the opposite.
Cliven Bundy was involved in a high-profile 2014 standoff with the government over grazing rights.
KLAS tried calling him for comment Monday night. A woman claiming to be his daughter said he's only taking calls from militia members.
"Somebody has to stand up, and it happened to be my sons that stood, and they will stand. They're not gonna' give up," Cliven Bundy told KLAS on January 19.
But since then, two of his sons were arrested.
"To those at the refuge, please stand down," Ammon Bundy said after he was arrested.
Cliven Bundy's notice to the sheriff was also sent to Oregon Governor Kate Brown and President Obama.
In the notice, Bundy wrote, "We will retain possession of the Harney County Resource Center."
The woman KLAS spoke with Monday night wouldn't say whether Cliven Bundy would go to Oregon to take part in the occupation.
Authorities arrested Ammon Bundy, his brother Ryan and others involved with the occupation in Oregon last week. Police also shot and killed LaVoy Finicum, who was a spokesman for the occupiers.
According to the FBI, Finicum reached for a gun before authorities shot him. Cliven Bundy and his supporters claim Finicum was assassinated and claim those arrested are political prisoners. Video of the shooting released by the FBI shows Finicum reaching into his pocket more than once.
"This was never meant to be an armed standoff," Ammon Bundy said shortly after the arrest.
While some groups in Oregon are calling for peace, there are reports of four protesters still at the refuge.
Cliven Bundy's notice could mean the fight is far from over.
"I am not going to back down on my constitutional rights," he said last week.
KLAS reached out to several local militia groups to find out if they're working with Bundy, and if they're heading to Oregon.
One militia member responded, claimed to be a "commanding officer," and declined to answer any questions.