Oregon Standoff Trial: Closing Arguments Underway

"You have to decide the case solely on the evidence present at trial," federal Judge Anna Brown told jurors in the federal courthouse in Portland on Tuesday. She was giving them instructions before they heard the beginning of closing arguments in the trial of seven people charged in connection with the 41-day armed takeover of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

The trial, which has gone on for nearly as long as the occupation, is in its final stages.

Assistant United States Attorney Ethan Knight gave the government's closing argument followed by Marcus Mumford, who represents Ammon Bundy, the lead defendant in the case.

"At the end of the day, there is an element of common sense that demonstrates the guilt of these defendants," Knight told the jurors, reminding them that they have to decide guilt based on the facts, not based on whether or not they agreed with the defendants.

"It's not about beliefs or values. It's about deciding which laws and which rules apply and which don't."

Knight constantly told the jurors the trial was not about politics. It's not about land use.

"These defendants took over a wildlife refuge and it wasn't theirs," he said. "They decided to pick and choose the rules and laws that apply and take over property that didn't belong to them.

"This space does not belong to these folks and they treated it as it did."

Mumford, as expected, presented a different view. He argued that his client was trying to keep government power in check, to prevent overreach.

"Ammon Bundy was trying to get to these issues through all the proper channels," he said. "And after all those channels failed, he decided with others that it was time to make a hard stand.

"His problem wasn't with the employees. His problem was with their employer — the federal government. It won't respect its limits."

Bundy and the others are charged with interfering with government employees doing their jobs.

Mumford tried to discredit the government's case, highlighting its use of informants, its lack of follow-up when it came to trying to trace seized weapons and tie them to the defendants.

Knight said that jurors should not put too much stock in that, as who had the guns didn't matter as much as the fact that the defendants are on video and audio at the refuge.

"This case is not a whodunit," he said.

Bundy's brother, Ryan, will continue defense closing arguments on Wednesday.

The jury could get the case by the afternoon.

Photo Multnomah County Sheriff's Office