Malheur Refuge occupiers file federal lawsuit

Several Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupiers have filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the Harney County Sheriff’s Office and the FBI.

Shawna Cox, Ryan Payne, Victoria Sharp and Ryan Bundy are the plaintiffs, who filed an 18-page lawsuit at the U.S. District Court in Portland last Friday.

The lawsuit goes into details on what happened two years earlier, on Jan. 26, 2016, when the plaintiffs and LaVoy Finicum were traveling to a public speaking event and meeting in Grant County.

Finicum was shot and killed by Oregon State Police troopers that day, while other occupiers were taken into custody.

The complaint alleges they were the victims of an armed ambush, excessive force, battery, conspiracy and assault.

They are seeking $9 million in this lawsuit.

As we previously reported, Jeanette Finicum, LaVoy’s widow, filed a $70 million wrongful death lawsuit against the federal government last month.

Shawna Cox and Ryan Bundy were acquitted of federal conspiracy and other charges in October 2016.

Here is the full 18-page federal lawsuit.