Reporters sue feds for info on FBI’s infiltration with fake film crew – Bunkerville

The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press filed a lawsuit Monday against the Justice Department and FBI in an effort to pry loose documents related to the FBI’s prior impersonation of documentary filmmakers.

The FBI has admitted to sending undercover agents to Nevada in 2014 to act as a film crew and interview supporters of rancher Cliven Bundy amid an armed standoff with the federal government.

Footage shot for the fake documentary was later used by the government during criminal trials of some of those involved in the standoff.

The reporter’s committee sought through Freedom of Information Act requests to obtain FBI records regarding the bogus film crew as well as any records on the bureau’s use of the tactic dating back to 2010. The lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia comes after the committee said the FBI has failed to act on the FOIA requests.

FBI agents pretended to work for a bogus film company, Longbow Productions, to gain access to and interview Mr. Bundy and others who aided him during the standoff. The agents created a website, business cards and other credentials to make Longbow Productions look like an authentic company.

“The FBI’s impersonation of journalists and documentary filmmakers undermines the credibility and independence of those who are trying to report on matters of importance to the public,” said Katie Townsend, litigation director for the committee.

“The public deserves to know more about the FBI’s use of this tactic, and has a right to this information under the law, but the FBI seems determined to evade disclosure. We’re asking the court to step in and compel the agency to release these records,” she said.

Read more at the Washington Times

Longbow Productions: FBI Reloaded – Bunkerville Trial in Nevada

by Shari Dovale

It was disclosed in a Las Vegas courtroom that the FBI set up a fake production company called Longbow productions. They seem to have been put in place for the sole purpose of entrapping people involved with the Bundy family and the 2014 protest against the BLM.

Five men are accused of various felonies involved with the Bunkerville standoff, with a sixth defendant being named as an FBI informant. Greg Burleson was outed by the FBI on the witness stand this week as a confidential informant that has worked with the FBI since 2012.

Longbow Productions had equipment, fake websites, fake prior productions, …the works. They were to tell everyone that they were filming a documentary about the standoff called “America Reloaded”. The fake film credentials were, hopefully, going to give them access to the very heart of the Patriot’s world.

The undercover agents with Longbow did meet with several people that had attended the 2014 event, as was disclosed during testimony. Several of their “interviews” were played as evidence for the jury. Or more accurately, several “parts” of these interviews were played, as they were selectively fragmented.

The entrapment included feeding alcohol to the defendants in order to get them to loosen their tongues. The more they talked, the more they might incriminate themselves.

Interviews of various defendants showed them to be peaceful men. Scott Drexler went to Nevada because he saw fellow Americans that needed help. Eric Parker told of his fear that he would not make it home, and how he knelt and prayed on the bridge. They only wanted a peaceful ending to the conflict.

Every interview that was shown underscored the peaceful character of the defendants … until they played the interview with the FBI Informant.

Greg Burleson uttered hateful and spiteful words on camera. He made violent threats, including stating that he “came to put some BLM agent Six Feet Under.” He also stated that the others there were not “brave enough for a fight.”

The only violent rhetoric the FBI could play for the prosecution came from their own Informant. Yet, this was being introduced as evidence in a joint trial, against all of the defendants.

The judge tried to tell the jury that some of this testimony was only against Greg Burleson, but, realistically, this cannot be unheard. The jury has listened to it, and the connection was made. And Judge Gloria Navarro has to know that it was completely prejudicial against the remaining defendants.

From REDOUBT NEWS

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