Former Bundy Lawyer Mike Arnold Scores Another Victory

It's been more than six weeks since lawyers Mike Arnold and Lissa Casey represented Ammon Bundy but their representation of the accused leader of the armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge has continued to come under scrutiny.

But the Oregon State Bar Association has once again ruled they did nothing wrong in their representation of Bundy.

They have faced nearly half a dozen complaints from people who accused them of violating ethics rules by doing everything from using social media to fundraise, asking people to help them do research, and encouraging people to file freedom of information act requests.

And each time, the bar association has said they had done nothing wrong.

The complaints have come from everywhere from the East Coast to Clatsop County District Attorney Josh Marquis, who had appealed his loss.

On Friday, the bar association wrote him, closing the case.

"After reviewing the relevant materials submitted, I do not find any evidence of ethical misconduct," Bar Association General Counsel Amber Hollister wrote. " For this reason, I affirm and adopt the Client Assistance Office’s dismissal of this complaint.

"The Oregon State Bar’s file concerning your complaint is now closed."

Arnold says that he hopes defense lawyers follow his lead.

"It will serve as positive precedent for attorneys nationwide that we no longer have to kowtow to the power of the government and their unlimited resources, perp walks, pleas for public help, and calculated release of investigation information," he said.

"District attorneys are now on notice: the government cannot silence free speech."