By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com
A day after Oregon’s governor criticized federal authorities for their handling of the occupation of an Oregon wildlife refuge, the FBI defended what it called a “deliberate and measured” response, NBC News reports.
“The FBI recognizes that many in the community have questions about why we are here and our role in helping to end the occupation of the wildlife refuge,” the FBI said Thursday.
“This occupation has caused tremendous disruption and hardship for the people of Harney County, and our response has been deliberate and measured as we seek a peaceful resolution,” the FBI said.
The armed militia has occupied the refuge since Jan 2. to protest a prison sentence for a pair of local ranchers convicted of setting fire to public land.
Since then, the group has destroyed camera surveillance and paved roads at the expense of archaeological sites important to the Burns Paiute Tribe.
“There are any range of cultural artifacts that might have been impacted by this illegal construction,” Federal Fish and Wildlife Service spokesperson Miel Corbett said.
Gov. Kate Brown on Wednesday said “federal authorities must move quickly to end the occupation and hold all of the wrongdoers accountable.”
