Cliven Bundy Holds Press Conference At Metro Police Headquarters

LAS VEGAS, NV - Two days after a Las Vegas judge dismissed the federal government's case against Cliven Bundy, the Bunkerville rancher held a press conference in front of Las Vegas Metropolitan Police headquarters on Wednesday asking Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo to meet with him to "decide what we're going to do on Bundy Ranch."

Bundy was released from custody on Monday after Judge Gloria Navarro determined the federal government's decision to withhold evidence from the defense was grounds for dismissing the case entirely. The dismissal was the latest failure of the federal government to prosecute those involved in the 2014 Bunkerville standoff as well as the 2016 occupation of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge in Oregon.

Bundy said that he tried to invite himself to a meeting with Lombardo on Wednesday.

"This is the man we have elected to protect our lives, liberty, and property," Bundy said. "That is the question we bring before this office today. Sheriff Lombardo, are you going to represent we the people, or are you going to represent the federal bureaucracy?"

Lombardo did not meet with Bundy on Wednesday, but Metro police released the following statement:

"The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and Sheriff Joe Lombardo respect the federal court’s decision in the Cliven Bundy case. Mr. Bundy has his own beliefs and has the right to express his opinion. The LVMPD will continue to follow the law and has no further comment on this case.

Supporters of public lands and Bundy critics also held a Wednesday press conference. Those in attendance were from the League of Conservation Voters, Las Vegas Paiute Tribe, Battle Born Progress, American Value Network, and the Faith Organizing Alliance.

“Nobody should be surprised by this for many reasons. Monday’s dismissal was hinted at last month when Judge Navarro ordered a mistrial. However, the mistrial that lead us ultimately to this week’s dismissal was not merely a mistrial but also a miscarriage of justice,” said Christopher Scott of American Values Network. “The one tall irony to this whole thing: Cliven Bundy and his family are all free today because the very system they are so hell-bent on defying and destroying actually works...and works in their favor. Four times now — in high-profile cases in Nevada and Oregon — the Bundy family and its allies have beaten the federal government in court.”

In an interview with CBS affiliate Channel 8 News Las Vegas, Bundy and his son Ryan told the station that Lombardo's responsibility during the standoff was to protect the ranchers from armed BLM agents.

Image via Ken Ritter/Associated Press