In court documents filed Tuesday, U.S. Attorney Billy Williams said that the FBI has uncovered a trench with "significant amounts of human feces" at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Eastern Oregon. The FBI started processing evidence at the refuge on Saturday, two days after the final four armed militants ended a 41-day occupation of the public wildlife facility. As part of its crime-scene processing, the FBI is working with the Burns Paiute Tribe to catalogue any damage to the tribal artifacts and sacred burial grounds on refuge property.
It was in this part of the refuge that the occupiers apparently set up a camp. "Occupiers appear to have excavated two large trenches and an improvised road on or adjacent to grounds containing sensitive artifacts," Williams wrote. He also said that the FBI is concerned that buildings and vehicles were booby trapped by the occupiers. The occupation cost taxpayers millions of dollars, and state and local authorities are seeking to recoup their part of the expenses from the federal government and 12 occupiers arrested for obstructing federal agents, Reuters reports.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
-
Kerala: one Indian state, four exhilarating waysThe Week Recommends The southwestern region pretty much has it all, from beachfront, to port metropolis, to verdant mountainside
-
Is a high-yield savings account worth having?The Explainer They can pay up to 10 times more than a standard savings account
-
Crossword: April 15, 2024The Week's daily crossword
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproarSpeed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain PrizeSpeed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 winsspeed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughterspeed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopicsSpeed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 GrammysSpeed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
