Jury hears closings in Nevada ranch standoff trial in Vegas
LAS VEGAS — A jury in Las Vegas was asked Wednesday to decide if gunmen who brought assault-style rifles to a 2014 protest near Nevada cattleman Cliven Bundy's ranch prevented violence against unarmed protesters during a tense standoff or committed armed acts of violence against federal agents.
Defense attorneys representing two Idaho men among the six defendants standing trial for forcing the government to end a round-up of cattle from public land told the U.S. District Court jury their clients committed no crimes.
Defendant Steven Stewart exercised his First Amendment right to free speech by using his Second Amendment right to have firearms, defense lawyer Richard Tanasi said.
"This is a case of standing up for what you believe in," the attorney said. "A protest is not a conspiracy."
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