United States v. Gregory Burleson

I. Background

A. Factual history

Cliven Bundy is a cattle rancher who lives near Bunkerville, Nevada. 1 For

1 This court’s opinion in United States v. Bundy, 968 F.3d 1019 (9th Cir. 2020) provides a useful overview of the facts regarding the standoff.

2 decades, Bundy and his family grazed their cattle on federal lands surrounding his

property. United States v. Bundy, 968 F.3d 1019, 1023 (9th Cir. 2020). Bundy

refused to obtain required grazing permits and ignored several federal district court

orders over the years to pay grazing fees and fines and to remove his cattle from

federal lands. Id.

In July 2013, BLM obtained a court order to “seize and remove to impound

any of Bundy’s cattle for any future trespasses.” Id. (citation omitted). In early

2014, BLM began preparations for “Operation Gold Butte Impound” which

entailed using contractors to round up the cattle trespassing on federal land and

selling them at auction. Id.

The operation began in April 2014. On April 6, Dave Bundy, one of

Bundy’s sons, blocked a BLM convoy and was arrested. Id. at 1024. The Bundys

launched a social media campaign calling for people to travel to Bunkerville and

prevent BLM…