Ammon Bundy stood to address the court, saying his intent was never to start an "armed standoff.''
"It was about protecting individual rights as it pertained to land issues,'' he said. He respected the judge and her role, he said, and called himself a federalist who believes the federal government has a role in protecting people.
"I do love this country very, very much,'' he said as his wife, Lisa Bundy, and father-in-law watched from the second row of the courtroom gallery. "My only desire from the beginning was to preserve freedom for the people.''