PORTLAND — A federal judge gave a blogger until noon Wednesday to delete information he published about confidential informants who helped law enforcement during last year’s takeover of a national wildlife refuge in Oregon.
In an opinion posted late last week, U.S. District Judge Anna Brown found Gary Hunt in civil contempt of a court order. She said Hunt faces “coercive sanctions” if he does not comply with the deadline.
Hunt, 71, of Los Molinos, Calif., has been ignoring a cease-and-desist letter he received Jan. 5. At a hearing last month in Portland, Hunt argued his case, but said he would comply with the judge’s order if she ruled against him.
Dozens of people, including nine informants, occupied the remote Malheur National Wildlife Refuge from Jan. 2 to Feb. 11, 2016. Led by Ammon Bundy, they were protesting federal control of public lands and the imprisonment of two ranchers.
