Oregon Standoff Trial Latest: Judge Threatens Ammon Bundy's Lawyer With Contempt

The federal judge overseeing the trial of seven people charged in connection with the 41-day armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge threatened a defense lawyer with contempt Thursday morning.

Judge Anna Brown told Ammon Bundy's lawyer, Marcus Mumford, to stop asking witnesses about the shooting death of Bundy associate LaVoy Finicum.

Finicum — who acted as a spokesman for the occupation — was shot and killed by Oregon State Troopers at the traffic stop resulting in the arrest of Bundy and seven others. He ran from a truck and was reaching for a gun when shot.

During the stop, at least one FBI agent fired shots but never reported having done so. There is currently a criminal investigation into the actions of the FBI agents on the scene.

Defense lawyers have tried to make Finicum's death and the actions of the FBI part of the trial, but Brown has repeatedly told lawyers not to address his death beyond that he was killed and when. She said his death does not bear on the decisions by the defendants to do what they did.

Prosecutors have said they are not calling to the stand any of the FBI agents involved in Finicum's death.

On Thursday, Mumford ignored that order while questioning Andy Dunbar, a rancher whose property borders the refuge.

Brown cut him off and told Mumford she will hold him in contempt and fine him $1,000 for each question he asks about Finicum's death while the jurors are present.

Brown asked Mumford if he understood.

"I understand the words," he said.

"I hope you can comply," she told him.

Dunbar, who received $2,000 from the FBI for access to his land, went on to testify hearing shooting from the refuge several times during the occupations.

He testified that on two occasions he saw men pointing guns at him as he watched them in the refuge's watchtower through binoculars.

Photo Multnomah County Sheriff's Office