Skip to main content
Tuesday, November 3, 2026Nov 3
Subscribe
All Sections
Search
More

This story is free to read.

The Latest: Ranchers will seek clemency from president

A small group of militia in Burns, Or., who were there to support a local ranching family, took over the federal office of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters Saturday, Jan. 3, 2016, in a development that stunned the community. Armed protesters took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday after participating in a peaceful rally over the prison sentences of local ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond. (Mark Graves/The Oregonian via AP)
A small group of militia in Burns, Or., who were there to support a local ranching family, took over the federal office of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters Saturday, Jan. 3, 2016, in a development that stunned the community. Armed protesters took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday after participating in a peaceful rally over the prison sentences of local ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond. (Mark Graves/The Oregonian via AP) A small group of militia in Burns, Or., who were there to support a local ranching family, took over the federal office of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge headquarters Saturday, Jan. 3, 2016, in a development that stunned the community. Armed protesters took over the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge on Saturday after participating in a peaceful rally over the prison sentences of local ranchers Dwight and Steven Hammond. (Mark Graves/The Oregonian via AP)

By Associated Press 1 min read

BURNS, Ore. (AP) – The latest on armed people who have taken over a federal building at an Oregon wildlife refuge (all times local):

11:45 a.m.

An attorney for two Oregon ranchers whose impending prison sentences led an armed group to take over a national wildlife refuge says they will seek clemency from the president.

Kendra M. Matthews, a lawyer for Dwight and Steven Hammond, said Monday that the father and son will ask President Barack Obama to pardon them. They were convicted of arson for setting fires on federal land in 2001 and 2006 and served some prison time.

A judge said in October that their terms were too short and ordered them back to prison. Matthews reiterated that the Hammonds intend to surrender Monday to begin serving their terms.

Their sentences have been a rallying cry for the group who say they ultimately want to turn over the refuge land to local authorities so people can use it free of U.S. oversight.