Man Tied to Oregon Standoff has Long History of Questioning the Government

A self-described “embedded reporter” connected to the armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge who was arrested last week on federal weapons charges has a history that includes bomb-making and stating that he could see the need to pull a gun on a law enforcement officer.

Michael Emry, who will appear in federal court in Eugene on Monday, was a prosecution witness against a man who wanted to kill a cocaine supplier.

“Lord forbid I ever have to pull a gun on a law enforcement officer that’s got a family and everything else,” he testified in Tennessee in 2004. “I may have to if they start breaking the Constitution and the oaths that they upheld.

“It strictly states in our constitutional law that we are to purge our government if they become out of control.”

He also testified about how he had manufactured a bomb and, in a separate instance, 66 illegal machine guns.

Emry was arrested by the FBI on Friday in John Day after a .50-caliber machine gun was found in his trailer in a RV-park.

During the takeover of the refuge, Emry broadcast online, describing himself as a reporter embedded with the militia group, the 3% of Idaho.

He frequently expressed sympathy for the actions of takeover leader, Ammon Bundy and the others. Bundy is one of 27 charged in connection with the takeover.

Emry’s testimony, which was first reported by The Oregonian, shows that his sympathy for the philosophy espoused by Bundy and the others is not new.

When he was asked on the stand if it was fair to say he has “antigovernment sentiments” he said, “no. Patriotic sentiments. I love my government. I love my country.”

“It’s just a due responsibility for every citizen to protect our very nation against any enemenies, foreign and domestic. Unfortunately our leaders are progressively putting us into a police state that no one wants.

He referred to people at Waco and Ruby Ridge as “all of those people have died standing for their principles.”