Nevada Congressman Calls for Investigation into Bundy Militia

Nevada Congressman Steven Horsford says out-of-state militia groups have established an armed presence that is scaring people in his district caught in the middle of a feud between a rancher and the federal government. He made the claims in a letter to Clark County Sheriff Douglas Gillespie asking his office to investigate.

Horsford say armed militia groups have set up checkpoints where residents are required to prove they live in the area southwest of Mesquite before they are allowed to pass.

“I am greatly concerned about the safety and well-being of my constituents after meeting with local community members this past week,” writes Horsford. “I urge Sheriff Gillespie to investigate these reports, as this sort of intimidation cannot be tolerated.”

“We must respect individual constitutional liberties, but residents of and visitors to Clark County should not be expected to live under the persistent watch of an armed militia,” he adds. “Residents have expressed their desire to see these groups leave their community. I urge you to investigate these reports and to work with local leaders to ensure that their concerns are addressed in a manner that allows the community (to) move forward without incident.”

A spokeswoman for Clark County Sheriff Douglas Gillespie said while police are looking into Horsford’s request, there hasn’t been a criminal allegation to investigate.

“We would need a victim to come forward and file a complaint,” said Officer Laura Meltzer, department spokeswoman.

Bundy’s wife, Carol said Gillespie and Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval has “ignored” the family’s calls for protection.

“Nobody has really backed down on either side,” she said. “We don’t plan on getting violent. We’re not out to overstep the bounds of our local government. But it’s our constitutional right to protect ourselves.”

Last week as Horsford toured the area, commented on Bundy’s supposed ‘racial’ comments made and recorded during a church service.

“Those words were hateful and belong in the dustbin,” Horsford said. “They were spoken by a man who doesn’t understand the Black way of life.”

Horsford is himself Black.

Bundy, in an interview in the New York Times said “Negros are enslaved by government subsidy, who abort their children and put their young men in jail because they never learned how to pick cotton.”

Horsford said Bundys’ comments were shocking.

“This district is a microcosm of our diverse country, and he is not a man who represents the American West’s way of life,” Horsford said. “It is beyond unfortunate that from this diverse community a loud voice of intolerance has been given a megaphone.”

Meanwhile, authorities in the nearby town of Mesquite also released a statement addressing safety concerns.

“During the Bundy and Bureau of Land Management dispute, there were indeed a few criminal incidents that did take place in Mesquite,” Chief of Police Troy Tanner wrote, “however they were few in number and never was anyone or their safety at immediate risk.”

Tanner added, “None of the events that occurred between the BLM and the Bundys occurred in Mesquite, Nevada, but rather along a stretch of Highway 170 where the Bundy Ranch resides and is counted as a part of the Bunkerville area.”

Finally, in Washington, D.C., Capitol Police are investigating threatening statements made against Nevada’s senior Senator, Harry Reid. Police declined to give further comment on the threats.

However Reid told reporters: “Each day that goes by, it’s hard for me to comprehend how ugly, vile, vulgar, and threatening people are sending letters to my home, and making other threats. So I don’t know who is mad at me. But it’s a long list, I guess.”

As for the battle between states and the federal government, Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is accusing the BLM of overreaching as the agency updates its management plans for a 90,000-acre segment of land along the Texas-Oklahoma border.

“We are seeing unprecedented overreaching action by the federal government,” Abbott, who’s running for Texas governor. “Now we see, through the Bureau of Land Management, a hijacking of private property rights across the entire United States of America.”