Ammon Bundy, the leader of the Oregon militia responsible for the armed takeover of Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, was acquitted on Thursday, October 27th.

In January 2016 the anti-government militia seized control of the federal wildlife refuge in Oregon. The militia was led by Ammon Bundy, the son of Cliven Bundy, a man with a history of anti-government protests.

The Bundys, cattle ranchers, claimed they were protesting the restrictions placed upon their ranching abilities; specifically, fees that they had to pay for their cattle to graze on federal land. The Bundys did not and do not recognize the land owned by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and are, in general, frustrated with the government.

They held the refuge for four-and-a-half weeks, from January 2 to February 11. Their protests led to LaVoy Finicum, a militia member, being shot and killed on January 26 by police after attempting to draw a handgun.

Eleven of the militia pled guilty to the charges of conspiracy to impede federal workers and firearms charges a few weeks before Ammon Bundy’s trial. Conspiracy is defined by the Cornell Legal Dictionary as an agreement between two or more people to commit a legal act, along with a shared goal between conspirators. Conspiracy punishments vary, but one conspirator can be found guilty of another conspirator’s crimes even if her or she was not directly involved. Firearms charges are levied against those suspected of possessing firearms in federal facilities.

On Thursday, October 27, Ammon Bundy, Ryan Bundy, and the five other militia members who pleaded innocent were found acquitted of these charges. The acquittal was unanimous.

The Bundy brothers were not released, however, due to pending charges in Nevada. There, Cliven Bundy and his sons are facing trial due to their allowing their cows to graze on government land. They claim they have “pre-emptive grazing rights” to this land. Their basis for that claim is that some Bundy ancestors have allowed their livestock to graze there since 1877.

Sheriffs from both counties where the Bundys made their stand have come out against the militia; Harney County Sheriff Dave Ward accused the defendants of lying about a private meeting, and Clark County Sheriff Doug Gillespie told the press he warned the Bundys to protest peacefully, without firearms.

According to state laws, Cliven Bundy and his family owe more than a million dollars in grazing fees.