Freemen face court after Montana siege
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Fourteen Freemen, ranging in age from 65-year-old rancher Ralph Clark to his 21-year-old grandson, Casey, faced criminal charges brought by the government whose legitimacy they denied in a courtroom in Billings, Montana yesterday.
The Freemen surrendered peacefully at sunset on Thursday night. After a group prayer, they walked out of their ranch into two FBI vans without being handcuffed. The 81-day siege that became the longest in modern US history cost several million dollars, with 633 FBI agents rotated in and out of remote eastern Montana.
President Bill Clinton praised the enforcement of the law "in a way that did not do harm to anyone".
The Freemen are accused of multi-million dollar fraud and issuing death threats as they set up their own courts, banks, and government. They run from dispossessed Montana ranchers to far-right activists from North Carolina. Two women from the ranch who did not face charges were released.
The siege ended after agents cut off telephones and electricity to the ranch 10 days ago. FBI director, Louis Freeh, said some agents were critical of the bureau for waiting too long. "I understand their impatience," he said, but "time was on our side."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments