Federal officials said the criminal charges “politically motivated” have been removed against a South Dakota ranch family whose lives were turned upside down after the Biden administration sued them in a 25-acre land dispute last year.
Donald Trump's Department of Agriculture (USDA) charges against Charles and Heather Maude, who owns 400 acres of Maud pigs and cattle, were dropped. USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins formally announced the end of the ordeal after a press conference with Maudes in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday morning.
"Thanks to President Trump and his instructions to put Americans first and bold leadership, we are pleased to announce that Modes' criminal prosecution is now over," Rollins said in a press conference. "They will not be expelled from their homes. They will not be sentenced to jail. They will not be fined. Their children will grow up with their mothers and their loved fathers and their fathers who love them."
Heather Maude speaks at a press conference in Washington, D.C. on behalf of her husband, Charles, and their children and their lawyers (Fox News)
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Maudes was charged with stealing federal property last year when the Biden administration’s U.S. Forest Service (USFS) said they were grazing without permission using federal grasslands adjacent to their property.
The couple reportedly both were fifth-generation South Dakota ranchers who have held a USFS National Prairie since the founding of USFS and grazed with a good attitude, after Maude Family purchased the farm in 1910.
The USDA said they sincerely agreed to the investigation into the property line when Biden’s USDA informed them that their property fences blocked opportunities for buffalo gap state grasslands.
Rather than addressing this on a small piece of land, the Biden administration has filed criminal charges against families, claiming they did manage, steal, prolin and transform into the national grassland they use in the US Department of Agriculture, a department and agency in the United States, with about 25 acres of National Meadow, covering 25 acres, 25 acres, 25 acres, and 25 acres. Aid and mutual counseling are both in violation of 18USC §§641 and 2. ”
Maude family on horses on ranch in South Dakota. (Maude Hog and via Facebook)
Charles and Heather Maude each face 10 years in prison and millions of dollars in fines.
Rollins invited Heather Maude to speak on the podium for her family.
"We are very grateful to the Trump administration and all these great players who are so fast relative to what we were facing before to get where we are today," Maud said.
Maude also descended from the five generations of peasants and briefly talked about the history of their families fighting for freedom.
"We are both the fifth generation of farmers and ranchers. Our family has over 250 years of production agriculture," she said. "When my two grandfathers fought in World War II, we paused briefly in the grandfather's generation.
"But before and after fighting for freedom in this country, we pursued our main passion, which led to Charles and I meeting each other, which is our work, agriculture," she said.
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Maud became emotional after thanking many local officials, activists and local media organizations for telling their stories.
In South Dakota, cattle plundered Maud pigs and cattle. (Maude Hog and via Facebook)
"I want to thank my mom and dad, and Charlie's parents, and our neighbors who threatened to retaliate for our neighbors until we completely resolved the issue," she said. "We are very grateful to those who work today to help make progress in the right direction, everyone else who writes for us, contributes economically and prays for us. May God bless you, God bless America and God bless America's agriculture."
Rollins provided support information to all ranchers and farmers who faced government persecution under the last time.
“For all American farmers, ranchers and producers who are subject to similar prudent laws in the Biden administration, we will work with our colleagues, including my great colleague Kristi Noem and others in the Trump administration to address any other administration over-introduction in such a situation. We must make sure our farmers and ranch are not targeted at life in America.
Attorney General Pam Bondi published the case in a press release Monday.
“The misleading agenda of the previous administration must be revoked to make the United States safe again,” she said. “The Justice Department will spend our resources and energy prosecuting criminals, taking drugs from the streets, and identifying and dismantling weapons.”
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A Biden spokesman did not return a request for comment.