To: First Lady Mrs Melania Trump

First off I would like to share how privileged I feel as a 6^th generation citizen of the United States to have you as our nation’s First Lady. Your style, intelligence and strength will serve all our nations young ladies as a tremendous role model. Your obvious commitment to your country and family is something to be admired.

With that said,  I wish to bring to your attention the strife of a salt of the earth ranching family from Harney County, OR that have been targeted with political objectives. 

Dwight and Stephen Hammond have been sentenced to 5 years in prison because they did the right thing in 2006. Early one morning, a lightning strike caused a fire to start on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) allotment the Hammond’s own grazing rights to. 

With BLM permission, they started a fire on their own property which ultimately did burn just over 120 acres. I would like to reference grazing handbook U.S. Code  Title 18 › Part I › Chapter 91 › § 1855 which speaks of willful intent to destroy federal owned property. Although it very clearly states said allotment owners have an exemption.

 

This section shall not apply in the case of a fire set by an allottee in the reasonable exercise of his proprietary rights in the allotment.

Because the three Obama appointees who actually filed the charges knew the Hammond’s could not be charged with a crime they chose to use another statute that in their own words was a “long shot.”

 

The Antiterrorism Act of 1996 was created to put teeth in the criminal prosecution of the terrorists of this country who willfully create actions of terrorism not simply using the very tools such as fire the BLM uses to manage the resources.

In 2012 these gentlemen were indeed convicted as terrorists against the United States because they started a fire that saved thousands of acres from destruction. 

I am writing this letter to you today because this family has suffered long enough. Stephen has spent 25 months in Federal Prison and his father Dwight is currently at 15 months both at Terminal Island, San Pedro, CA. 

Ma’m, we are a nation of laws. We are also a nation of compassionate understanding people. The family has submitted the required paperwork and submitted it through the proper channels for clemency. I might also add their own Harlan County Sheriff David Ward and neighboring Grant County Sheriff included letters with the submission on behalf of the Hammond family.

 

Without question they are guilty of not originally taking these charges seriously enough and anyone can clearly see the lack of proper defense by their attorney.

 

Without the knowledge of the Hammond family, I am asking you that as one who clearly understands the bond of a family and the strength that comes through adversity that you may inquire as to more about the real agenda that put these hard working family men in prison.

Rolling up our sleeves and Making America Great Again together!! Thank you for your time and consideration.

Trent Loos

Loup City, Nebraska

Member Trump Agriculture Committee

trentloos@gmail.com