By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
The FBI has swept the Oregon wildlife refuge for evidence following the long standoff with occupiers and has turned over the site to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Federal prosecutors said the FBI is finished processing the crime scenes at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
Now defense lawyers have an opportunity to visit the refuge between noon Thursday and 5 p.m. Friday, but they will be escorted by federal officers.
This will give defense lawyers and their investigators a chance to photos or videos.
Once the visit is complete, the federal government “will begin the process of restoring” the wildlife refuge so that it can open to the public, the Oregonian reports.
Defense lawyers filed a joint motion Friday to prevent the FBI from sweeping the site until investigators can monitor the activity of federal law enforcement.
Ammon Bundy’s lawyers argued, “The problem in this unique case is that the Government will not know what evidence at the scene is specifically favorable to Mr. Bundy as opposed to another co-defendant.”
The FBI aid Tuesday that agents swept the site to ensure no one was still there and searched the site for bombs.
The occupation of the wildlife refuge ended relatively peacefully after 41 days.
