Due to the tremendous response of my last diary, I decided to write a sequel. And, of course, scouring the news sites, there was nothing about the trial today.
But following up a suggestion by Jen Hayden, I had a look at the Oregon Public Broadcasting website, which hosts an ongoing podcast on the Malheur Occupation Trial, “This Land is our Land” — which is worth following if you’re interested in the matter. (Or just want a change from unending stories about the short-fingered vulgarian.) Today’s episode was “Threat Against Harney County Sheriff Described In Testimony”.
Sheriff Ward was the law enforcement officer who had to handle this threat. By his own description, he’s no friend of the Federal government, & in his opinion got along well with the Occupiers. The point where he & Ammon Bundy & his followers disagreed, however, was that he wanted them to leave. And his testimony yesterday has largely supported this story.
However, his lieutenant sheriff, Brian Needham, revealed a surprise in his own testimony: on the morning of 7 December, a few weeks before the occupation, Ryan Payne approached him & told him that Sheriff Ward was a problem.
“You need to get rid of Sheriff Ward by any means necessary … including death.”
Some folks might consider that this story has stopped being funny at this point — although in my opinion it’s still surreal.