Oregon occupier seeking $666,666,666,666.66 in damages from the government


One of the armed occupiers of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon has filed a criminal counterclaim against federal officials, saying she "suffered damages from the works of the devil" and deserves a settlement of $666,666,666,666.66.
Shawna Cox, 59, of Kanab, Utah, is accused of conspiring against the government, and she's one of a handful of the occupiers facing federal charges allowed to be home under house arrest. On Wednesday, she filed an eight-page countersuit, The Guardian reports, claiming she went to the refuge to come "to the assistance of economically vulnerable individuals who were being harassed, threatened, intimidated, persecuted, and incarcerated by arrogant, narcissi [sic] Federal Government officials who have organized together to hijack and steal our Constitutional form of government from the people of the United States of America."
Officials say Cox was a spokeswoman for the group that occupied the refuge from Jan. 2 until last week. She was also in the car with another occupier, Robert "LaVoy" Finicum, before he was shot and killed during a traffic stop last month. Cox alleged in her complaint that "State and Federal employees organized together to attempt to murder me," and claimed that the occupation was a legal way to challenge the government.
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.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
AI chatbots are leading some to psychosis
The explainer The technology may be fueling delusions
-
'Self-segregation by political affiliation is spreading'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
-
7 places across the country to experience the best of summer drinking
The Week Recommends Stops include a Basque-inspired spot and a bar where the menu overhauls twice a year
-
Judges order release of 2 high-profile migrants
Speed Read Kilmar Ábrego García is back in the US and Mahmoud Khalil is allowed to go home — for now
-
US assessing bomb damage to Iran nuclear sites
Speed Read Trump claims this weekend's US bombing obliterated Tehran's nuclear program, while JD Vance insists the US is 'not at war with Iran'
-
Trump's LA deployment in limbo after court rulings
Speed Read Judge Breyer ruled that Trump's National Guard deployment to Los Angeles was an 'illegal' overreach. But a federal appellate court halted the ruling.
-
Marines, National Guard in LA can detain Americans
speed read The troops have been authorized to detain anyone who interferes with immigration raids
-
Trump vows 'very big force' against parade protesters
Speed Read The parade, which will shut down much of the capital, will celebrate the US Army's 250th anniversary and Trump's 79th birthday
-
Smithsonian asserts its autonomy from Trump
speed read The DC institution defied Trump's firing of National Portrait Gallery Director Kim Sajet
-
Trump sends Marines to LA, backs Newsom arrest
speed read California Gov. Gavin Newsom is filing lawsuits in response to Trump's escalation of the federal response to ICE protests
-
Trump foists National Guard on unwilling California
speed read Protests erupted over ICE immigration raids in LA county