Cliven Bundy, a father figure of land standoffs with federal officials, was arrested and jailed in Oregon on Wednesday night while apparently on his way to the wildlife refuge where his son Ammon Bundy led its occupation until he was arrested and jailed.
Cliven Bundy, the 74-year-old Nevada rancher who was the center of a standoff with federal officials in Nevada in 2014, was arrested after he arrived at Portland International Airport from Las Vegas on Wednesday night, reported
The Associated Press. He was booked into the lockup just before 11 p.m., according to Multnomah County Jail records. No charges were listed.
The Washington Post said he was reportedly on his way to the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in isolated southeastern Oregon, where an armed occupation in its 41st day seemed to be coming to an end. The occupation had been organized by Bundy’s sons Ammon and Ryan, who are now in jail facing a felony charge of conspiracy to impede a federal officer.
The AP said the FBI confirmed Bundy was taken into federal custody but declined to provide a reason or other details, saying further information would be released by the U.S. Attorney's office in Las Vegas, which did not respond to a phone call early Thursday.
The Oregonian reported Bundy will face a conspiracy charge of interfering with a federal officer related to the stalemate at his ranch in 2014.
According to the AP, in March of that year Bundy clashed with federal officials over grazing rights on government land. Federal officials eventually backed away from seizing his cattle, but the dispute remains unresolved.
The Bureau of Land Management says the family has not made payments toward a $1.1 million grazing fee and penalty bill.
In the 2014 showdown, Cliven Bundy justified his actions in religious terms, saying that he decided to challenge federal agents after praying for guidance.
Ammon Bundy had been demanding that the Oregon refuge be handed over to local control for ranching, mining, logging and other uses and that two jailed ranchers in the area be freed.
Authorities arrested Ammon Bundy, his brother and other group leaders as they traveled to a community meeting Jan. 26 north of the refuge when authorities set up a road block.
Robert "LaVoy" Finicum, the group's spokesman, was killed in a confrontation with the FBI and Oregon State Police on the remote road.
Those arrested in conjunction with the standoff face felony charges of conspiracy to impede federal officials in their official duties through the use of force, intimidation or threats, said the AP.
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.