Right-wing anti-government iconoclast Ammon Bundy and his followers must pay an Idaho hospital more than $50 million after a jury ruled Bundy repeatedly defamed St. Luke’s Hospital in Boise by claiming the hospital violated the parental rights of one of his acolytes, the Idaho Statesman reports.
Officials at the hospital and with various child protective services determined Bundy acolyte Diego Rodriguez was endangering his child by denying him required medical care he needed for a medical condition. The child was found to be severely malnourished and dehydrated after a status check at the ranch when the child and his parents failed to appear for a follow-up medical appointment.
Bundy and his fellow anarchists then undertook a campaign in person and online claiming the hospital took the child to use him in child sex trafficking and/or various medical experiments. These protests including picketing two of the hospital’s locations, posting false and defamatory statements online and making threats against hospital staff.
None of the defendants appeared for a trial because they claimed the courts were already rigged against them, so the court found the group forfeited the case. The jury then heard testimony from hospital executives and employees outlining the abuse and threats.
Bundy was ever defiant: “The Ada County courts are embarrassing,” Bundy told the Idaho Statesman in a message. “This recent verdict confirms everything I have been saying. I am glad I did not participate and legitimize this mockery of justices.”
The $52.5 million verdict breaks down as following: Ammon Bundy must pay $6.2 million compensatory costs and $6.15 million punitive damages; People’s Rights Network $5.2 million compensatory and $5.2 million in punitive; the Ammon Bundy for Governor campaign fund: $1.55 million in compensatory and $1.65 million punitive; Diego Rodriguez $7 million compensatory and $6.5 million punitive; and Bundy’s Freedom Man Press/Freedom Man PAC combined must pay $6.55 million compensatory and $6.5M punitive.