Imprisoned Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy sued US president Barack Obama and other high ranking federal officials following his criminal case. The lawsuit alleges that his constitutional rights were being violated following his unlawful solitary confinement and accusing U.S. Sen. Harry Reid on plotting to steal his property.
According to Gawker, the leader of the high profile armed standoff with law enforcement in 2014, Cliven Bundy, filed the lawsuit against President Barack Obama, U.S. Sen. Harry Reid, Rory Reid, the senator's son and Gloria Navarro, the presiding judge for his criminal case. It seeks to remove the judge from the case as well as an order allowing lawyer Larry Klayman to join Bundy's defense team and more than $50 million in damages.
Bundy accuses the Senator Reid and his son of stealing his land. "Defendant HARRY REID ordered and sent the equivalent of federal storm-troopers to Plaintiff BUNDY'S ranch to seize his and his family's land and capture and/or harm his cattle, at the direction of Defendant HARRY REID," the federal lawsuit stated.
The rancher faces a number of criminal charges from an armed standoff in April 2014 near his property, outside Bunkerville, about 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas, after the authorities tried to relocate their cattle, which prompted heavy protests, Guardian reported.
Bundy, 70 refused for cattle's grazing on federal lands for over 20 years, and is against US Bureau of Land Management, which he believed, had no right to regulate ranchers. Bundy, together with his four sons, and other dozen activists were charged of conspiracy against the federal government, obstruction, weapon, threats, assault charges and extortion.
Taken custody in February, Bundy seeks to be released from being incarcerated. According to Las Vegas Review Journal, he accuses the federal judge on violating his constitutional rights.
"Defendant Navarro has shown her true intentions and bias and prejudice, rising to the level of denying Sixth Amendment right of counsel and to a speedy trial to plaintiff Bundy," the lawsuit states. Bundy's lawyer, Joel Hansen is also seeking to dismiss the charges because of the violation.
The imprisoned rancher who has been denied bail and remains incarcerated as he awaits trial is scheduled for February 2017. He accuses the government of "cruel and unusual punishment" for locking him in solitary confinement.
