OPB’s This Land is Our Land

Coverage and conversation on the federal trial for the people who led the occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. This week, the trial began for the second group of defendants charged in connection with the 2016 armed occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

To mark the occasion, we’re bringing you a pair of interviews OPB reporter Conrad Wilson conducted with two jurors from the trial of the first group of defendants.

Curt Nickens, known as Juror No. 11 during the trial, believed Ammon Bundy, Ryan Bundy and Kenneth Medenbach were guilty of the main conspiracy charge in the case. But after Juror No. 4 sent the judge a note questioning Nickens’ ability to be impartial, Nickens was removed from the jury, and deliberations began again. The new jury found all of the defendants not guilty of the main conspiracy charges.

On this episode, we hear from Juror No. 4 and Juror No. 11, and ask what the U.S. attorneys have to do this time if they want a guilty verdict.