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.
-
Trump says 25% tariffs on Canada, Mexico start Feb. 1Speed Read The tariffs imposed on America's neighbors could drive up US prices and invite retaliation
-
Trump blames diversity, Democrats for DC air tragedySpeed Read The president suggested that efforts to recruit more diverse air traffic controllers contributed to the deadly air crash
-
Today's political cartoons - January 31, 2025Cartoons Friday's cartoons - tragedy by gaslight, mental health, and more
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own roomSpeed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talksSpeed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tourSpeed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamationSpeed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box officeSpeed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appealSpeed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
