Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy says he doesn't know much about possible plans by the federal government to either raid his ranch or try to bankrupt him in court, but he isn't worried about either situation.
"And if they come, we'll deal with them tonight. 'Cause that's what we've got to do, we'll just deal with you. If you've got guts enough to do it, then come on," Bundy told
Fox News Channel's Sean Hannity on Tuesday.
Hannity has been a leading media figure publicizing Bundy's battle with the Bureau of Land Management. The agency was forced to pull back from a standoff with Bundy supporters over the weekend, and returned some of the 400 head of cattle it already had seized.
Richard Mack, former sheriff of Graham County, Ariz., was one of those supporters. He told
WorldNetDaily on Monday that he had sources inside the government and law enforcement who told him the BLM had considered a plan to withdraw, then come back after supporters had dropped their defenses.
"We don't know if it was a specific plan, but after hearing Harry Reid's comments, we think they are going to come in for a surprise midnight raid," he said.
Mack was referring to Nevada Sen. Harry Reid, who had remained mum on the confrontation happening in his state until after the BLM retreated. He then said the fight with Bundy was "not over," and that citizens cannot be allowed to break the law and walk away.
Bundy has refused to pay federal grazing fees to the BLM for 20 years because he disputes the federal government's right to the land. His family has maintained grazing rights to the acreage since the 1870s.
Bundy told Hannity that Reid was elected by Nevadans to defend the country against foreign nations. He suggested he return to Washington and be involved in that work.
"You have no business here in Clark County, Nev.," Bundy said.
Bundy says the federal government has usurped powers given in the Constitution to the states, and has called on all country sheriffs across the country to disarm "federal bureaucrats."
If raided, Bundy said he would surrender only to proper authorities, such as the Clark County sheriff.
Bundy's son Ammon told Hannity the family is not as fearful as he says the government wants them to be.
"Even if they killed him, the people will answer that. They will be the ones to make it right," Ammon Bundy said.
Hannity told Bundy of possible BLM plans to use the courts to bankrupt him.
"Well, that's not new; that's what they've been doing for the past 20 years," Bundy said.
"Just come on, we'll take you on."
Bundy said he received four certified letters earlier Tuesday from the BLM and he assumed they were lawsuits. He hadn't yet opened them.
"They're not the top thing on my agenda," he said.