Oregon governor calls on federal authorities to end refuge occupation

Oregon Gov. Kate Brown (D) said on Wednesday she's been mostly silent regarding the standoff at a wildlife refuge because the federal government asked state officials "limit" their public comments on the occupation.

During a brief speech discussing her 2016 policy agenda, Brown said she has complied to "avoid escalating the situation," adding she "would not want to say anything to compromise their efforts to resolve the situation." On Jan. 2, armed occupiers took over a federal building at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge near Burns, saying they were protesting the prison sentence of a father and son convicted of committing arson on federal land. Brown said what is happening is "absolutely intolerable," and that "the very fabric of this community is being ripped apart."

Brown said she has "conveyed these very grave concerns" to the White House and Department of Justice, and called on federal authorities to "move quickly to end the occupation and hold all of the wrongdoers accountable." Brown also said that during next month's legislative session, she will ask for money — about $100,000 per week — to offset the cost of responding to the occupiers, NBC News reports.

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