A member of the FBI’s elite Hostage Rescue Team has been indicted in Oregon on five federal counts of making a false statement and obstruction of justice.
The five-count indictment relates to the January 2016 police chase and fatal shooting of Robert Lavoy Finicum, the spokesman for a standoff with federal authorities at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
FBI agent W. Joseph Astarita, 40, received three counts of making a false statement and two counts of obstruction of justice. Appearing yesterday in federal court in Portland, he pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Astarita will remain out of custody pending trial.
Find out the alleged deception that led to the charges against him, which law enforcement agency produced the evidence, and the dismay of law enforcement officials over the indictment.
The story continues on the next page.
JUSTICE !!!!!!
I respectfully disagree. He was part of a group that took up guns against the government. In the end he charged a roadblock with his vehicle got out of the vehicle reached into his jacket more than once while yelling you’ll have to shoot me. I understand their frustration over the situation but I don’t see how he left them any alternative.
Ron Wilson
Bonnie and clyde style shooting. Did not need to kill this man. My opinion , his family needs all the prayers . Support his beliefs, he loved his country.
Carl Spring I respectfully disagree as well and when you show the video i didn’t see of him raching into his jacket more than once while yelling go on and shoot me that’s what you mean to do anyway.. Let’s put it this way they were on their way to a meeting with the sheriff in a border town,, they were pulled over. the fbi never came up to the vehicle but just keep pointing guns at them.. they holler back and forth and the Lavoy tells them after that standoff that they have an appointment with the sheriff . the fbi takes shots at them in the car with innocent people in there.. the girl wasn’t even in the conflict only getting a ride from a friend. they start driving up road and try to call for help to the sheriff and wow their phones are blocked. they hit the roadblock up ahead and the video is still going at this time (not the faked FBI video they showed) Man in back seat seat sticks arm out window saying we are not armed and gets shot in arm he is not even holding a gun… NO GUN (as they had no guns with them) {everyone involved and witnesses say they didn’t bring them to meeting with sheriff} after this Lavoy feels he needs to get out of vehicle to protect others hoping no more shooting but when he’s standing there holding up his arms screaming go and shoot and that’s what you want” dude hiding on side shoots in upper area and he is moving his hand to the shot area when the dude opens fire. they shot that vehicles so many time with 3 unarmed people in side still filming thank goodness and then they were up$#%&!@*creek when they found they were being filmed by two people.. No that was over shooting and plain ridiculous what they did to those people and that girl getting a ride with them.. If the FBI wanted a shoot em up they should have attacked them when they were in the holdup in building with guns. this investigation was as phony as the the “ambush they did to those people in that vehicle)
Carl Spring what cloud are you on, he was set up and murdered.
LaVoy and the Bundy Ranch where 20% of US Uranium is being mined –
https://jonrappoport.wordpress.com/2016/01/27/the-clintons-is-the-oregon-standoff-really-about-uranium/
This man was murdered. Hang these guys.
Is anyone really Suprized?
This FBI guy just happens to be the one that got caught.There are probably more.