Yesterday, Cliven Bundy, his sons, and two other men were indicted by federal authorities for their “massive armed assault” in Bunkervile, Nevada in April 2014.Bundy has become a polarizing figure over the last twenty years, with extreme right-wingers lining up to support his often violent protests against the federal government. Among those Republicans who have refused to condemn him in 2014 is Senate candidate Joe Heck.
When the Las Vegas Review-Journal asked Heck about the stand off, the representative called the governments response to Bundy’s unlawful actions a “runaway use of executive action” and went on to refer to the government as the “greater problem.”
But the 2014 altercation was no peaceful sit-in. Armed and willing to attack, Bundy “used ‘deceit and deception’ to lure hundreds of followers across the country to his call to arms, the indictment alleges.”
Bundy and the four others have been charged with 16 felonies, “including extortion, obstruction of justice, conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer, assault on a federal officer, threatening a federal law enforcement officer and using and carrying a firearm in a crime of violence.”
It is the duty of a U.S. representative to protect and uphold the laws of the union — yet, Heck criticized law enforcement’s actions against Bundy. More recently, Heck has come out against the Senate confirming any Supreme Court nominee put forward by President Obama despite the Constitution’s clear instructions. Whether this is an attempt to satisfy Sharron Angle supporters or something else, Heck has already failed at his own obligations as a representative with his refusal to condemn on Bundy. He does not deserve a promotion.
Heck‘s comments make it clear: he is unwilling and unprepared to perform the constitutional duties of a U.S. Senator.
Published: Feb 18, 2016