Hemel added: I wouldnt want Couy Griffin to be my county commissioner, or anyones county commissioner, but I think defenders of democracy need to think long and hard about whether judicial disqualification is the wisest approach.. Most of these cases fizzled quickly, and none have succeeded. He has occasionally surfaced in national news for his violent rhetoric and his efforts to impugn the election results in his home state as recently as this summer.). Otero Countys financial director told AG investigators that, following a records request for the vouchers and several complaints from citizens, Griffin voluntarily opted to pay the entire $3,237.48 back to Otero County, court records state. They provide content and services to help engage audiences worldwide, working with companies of all types, from broadcasters to brands. It is their calling by God that established this ministry. The motion said Couy Griffin has publicly expressed views and opinions which have incited threats of violence to his ex-wife and son. The ruling comes after lawyers for Griffin's ex-wife, Kourtnie, filed an emergency motion in May to modify their custody and visitation agreement. The decision interrupts a string of adverse legal decisions for Griffin, who remains barred from elected office under a judge's decision upheld by the New Mexico Supreme Court in February. In a pretrial order Friday, McFadden rejected the first argument, saying many others drawn to the Capitol have been charged and that Griffins leadership role and more blatant conduct at the scene might rationally merit different handling by prosecutors. ", Get caught up:Otero Commissioners to discuss calls for resignation of Couy Griffin on Thursday. His trial comes just weeks after a jury in Washington, DC, found Guy Reffitt guilty on five charges, including possession of a firearm on Capitol grounds. Success in the latter scenario remains unlikely, especially in the absence of a criminal conviction. As per the sources, He was married to him for a long time and got divorced in 2019. More:Griffin gets guns back, but only at home, Although Griffin's trip to Washington, D.C. in September 2019 was initially for the proper reason of attending a regional county commissioners conference, the reason stated on a travel voucher submitted by Griffin was "meeting with President.". The Otero County Clerk's Office, although not a participant in the recall proceedings, is interested to ensure that, if a recall is triggered, it is done in an orderly and clear fashion "so the voters are clear on the process," Ivey-Soto said. He also said that, if appealed, it could give the Supreme Court an opportunity to weigh in on this question without directly deciding on a case involving Trump. Couy Griffin Wikipedia And Age The group said this week seek arbitration in a fight with the New Mexico Secretary of State over fines and required reports. "He had as much right to due process as we do and the judge very much made it clear and afforded him that right. A January 6-related trial began Monday in the case of "Cowboys for Trump" founder Couy Griffin. I would have wanted him to have the opportunity to argue his points here," Sanchez said. When two thugs tried to attack an elderly man, he pulled out his own weapon and fired back, scaring them away. In a reversal, Biden said he would sign a resolution blocking a D.C. effort to reduce penalties for violent crimes. Griffin also met with then-President Donald Trump on Sept. 12, 2019. Couy is the professional Otero County Commissioner who. News, Politics, Culture, and more in realtime. When McFadden posed a boilerplate question about whether Griffin had taken drugs or alcohol the accused Capitol rioter said he'd had a couple beers the night before. It seems like Couy prefers to keep details about his family a secret. In 2019, he forged a group of rodeo acquaintances into the promotional group Cowboys for Trump, which staged horseback parades to spread then-President Donald Trumps conservative message on issues such as gun rights and illegal immigration. Griffins disqualification from office is not only retroactive to Jan. 6, 2021; he is also barred for life from holding any civil or military office in the future. Mr Griffin, a county official in Otero County, New Mexico, added that the aftermath of the election had added to difficulties with relatives and his divorced wife. New evidence was released in the case against Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin. As a reminder, Chair of the Otero County GOP is an Official office within the party. Couy Griffin is one of thousands of Trump loyalists in public office charting an uncertain future ahead of the 2022 election cycle. It doesnt bother local leadership that Couy has made this EXACT same trip time and time again, through donations for whatever cause will pay. While still a county commissioner, Griffin joined with Republican colleagues in refusing to certify results of the June 2022 primary election based on distrust of the voting systems used to tally the vote, even though the countys election official said there were no problems. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,600],'millionsofcelebs_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_1',125,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-millionsofcelebs_com-medrectangle-4-0');There hasnt been further news about his execution. Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). Couy Griffin has been reported as one of the men involved in the riots at the U.S. Capitol that occurred on January 6, 2021. Dewey is from Windom, Minnesota . The Cowboys for Trump website was not operational Feb. 13. In bond proceedings but not in Mondays trial, prosecutors have cited videos in which Griffin also said he planned to return armed to Washington for Joe Bidens inauguration with his .357 Henry big boy rifle and single action revolver and rhetorically suggested the blood of political foes could be spilled at the Capitol in defense of the right to bear firearms. Defense attorney Jonathan Miller said Griffin was just a guy who rides a horse and tried to do the right thing by registering Cowboys for Trump as a for-profit corporation and notifying donors that they cannot deduct donations from taxes. The ruling comes after lawyers for Griffins ex-wife, Kourtnie, filed an emergency motion in May to modify their custody and visitation agreement. And a judge acquitted him of disorderly conduct. So it becomes a security issue when they [rioters] were surrounding a secure site and potentially taking away options for our routes out, said Hawa, who is a veteran of the force for 23 years and served as the Pence security details liaison for his trip to the Capitol. The videos show Griffin on Jan. 6 climbing over a stone wall marking the Capitols security perimeter and climbing over a sideways metal bike rack within it, and spending more than an hour perched on the front railing of the inaugural stage with a bullhorn, ignoring the lingering smell of pepper spray and leading the crowd below in prayer. Susana Martinez. "To mount a meaningful defense Griffin must be allowed to test the veracity of the Government's contention that Vice President Pence was on the Capitol grounds during the relevant period," McFadden ruled. I will not be intimidated, I will not be threatened, and I sure as Hell wont back down!! Prosecutors plan to call a Secret Service inspector and Capitol police inspector later on Monday. The Justice Department said in charging papers that, following the January 6 insurrection, Griffin recorded a video in which he claimed to have "climbed up on the top of the Capitol building" and stated his intention to return on January 20 the day then-President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration. Effort to bar Jan. 6 figures from office notches historic win. The board ultimately certified the election on a 2-1 vote with Griffin still voting no based on a gut feeling., Trump cowboy found not guilty of campaign finance charge. They have a Son Together was born in 2014. For example, I can be a real asshole in writing. Prior to Griffin's leaving the hearing, Arrieta told him that the Otero County Commission would have a quorum present without Griffin and that this hearing may be more important at this time. New Mexico and ABQ News, Sports, Business and more, By Nicole Maxwell / Alamogordo Daily News Last week, Griffin faced criticism after he posted a Facebook live video where he said some Black NFL players should go back to Africa if they wanted to stand for Lift Evry Voice and Sing traditionally known as the Black national anthem as a gesture of solidarity against racial injustice. New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver is a Democrat who has called Trump the election denier-in-chief.. A Donald Trump supporter, Griffin founded Cowboys for Trump and listed his sister Kay Griffin as its organizer. Cowboys for Trump . Once the recall is allowed to begin, the recall petition is taken to Otero County District 2 voters and if 1,661 verified signatures are gathered, then a recall election takes place. Photo courtesy Polk County Sheriffs Office. The extra trip to New York City exceeds the scope of the authorized travel, court records state. Ivey-Soto requested that the stamp on the facepage of the petition not be affixed until the sixth day following the April 8 hearing unless Griffin files the appeal. Lewis Capaldi handled himself like a true pro, simply backing away from the mic and hanging on to the stand while his fans took the lead. Reffitt's trial presented a test for the Justice Department as it undertakes an investigation it has called "unprecedented," and the conviction marked a significant victory in the nearly 800 prosecutions related to the January 6 attack. But he found that Griffins actions met the standard set forth by the 14th Amendment, citing Griffins violent rhetoric and evidence of his actions at the Capitol. If you dont believe me, ask all those who thought Dennis Rader was such a nice guy. Griffin elected to have a bench trial, meaning a Trump-appointed judge rather than a jury of 12 will review the evidence and decide his fate. Griffins actions have been selfish and place the minor child at risk, in addition to his ex-wifes unborn child, Rosner said. Police say a man shot himself and unintentionally killed a woman when the bullet passed through his head and struck her last month at Middle school students killer to remain in custody until Juan Saucedo Jr., 14, pleaded no contest to second-degree murder and was sentenced to remain in custody until age 21 in the 2021 shooting Albuquerque Police data: Use-of-force policies followed 95% of the Albuquerque superintendent of police reform hails Albuquerque superintendent of police reform hails results as "success" in Court Approved Settlement Agreement compliance. All I know is if the Chairman of the Otero Co GOP is willing to try and smoke a citizen there must be some major fire that needs to be extinguished. I guess one needs to ask whats in this for the Chairman of Otero County GOP? Oh, the furs and clothing, nope sorry Couy dont pay for clothing either, my bad. Griffin is one of at least 10 people charged in the riot who either held public office or ran for a government leadership post in the two-and-a-half years before the attack, according to an Associated Press tally. After all, if Couy Griffin is disqualified from holding office for his role in Jan. 6, then shouldnt Donald Trump be disqualified for his even greater role in Jan. 6th?. Photo credit: @AP on Twitter. A jury will consider this week whether the support group Cowboys for Trump and cofounder Couy Griffin violated state election law by failing to register as a political organization without filing related public financial disclosures. A copy of the check was included in the warrant packet. Griffin invoked free speech protections in declining to register and disclose the donors to Cowboys for Trump and expressed concern that financial contributors might be harassed. A Senate Judiciary Committee report stated that Mastriano and his wife took part in the January 6 insurrection, with video footage confirming that they passed through breached barricades and police lines at the U.S. Capitol. (Mastriano has said he never entered the Capitol itself, and he has been charged with no crimes.). Couy gotarrestedon 17 January 2021 incharge of his connection in the riots at the U.S. Capitol. Kourtnie Griffin, an Iraqi war veteran, understands "passions for God and country" and believes her ex-husband has a right to express his views, her lawyers said. Why on earth would someone put their reputation on the line for a person who is being exposed as a fraud and financial scammer? In August 2019, Griffin went to Washington, D.C., for a conference. Representatives from the Otero County Clerk's Office were at the hearing, including attorney Daniel Ivey-Soto who was appearing on behalf of the County Clerk' Office. Now he has regrets., In middle of Jan. 6 riot, Oath Keepers chief reached out to Proud Boys, Kyle Kuzma, Wizards start fast and dont look back in win over Raptors, Nationals relievers see benefit in tinkering with new pitches, Roger Goodell, Muriel Bowser discussed future of RFK site in December call, Betrayal: The Final Act of the Trump Show,, 163 Republicans who have embraced Trumps false claims are running for statewide positions that would give them authority over the administration of elections. Derrick Evans, was sentenced to three months in jail this summer for committing civil disorder on Jan. 6. They want to talk about playing a Black national anthem before football games? Pence spent Jan. 6 at underground Senate loading dock, Secret Service confirms, QAnon Shaman stays in jail as judge slams his arguments: So frivolous as to insult the Courts intelligence, He kicked back in Pelosis office on Jan. 6. One person is dead and another has been hospitalized after a shooting on Central Avenue near Moon Street, police said Thursday morning. Hes going to run, and weve got to know whether hes allowed to run or not, Magliocca said. In several high-profile races, those who didnt storm the Capitol but were otherwise involved in the Jan. 6 proceedings have won their partys nomination. Miller, a public defender, said Griffin's intention was to speak boldly and openly about common sense convictions and national pride without yielding to government control through the regulation of nonprofit groups. Also, he could be white by ethnicity. Couy rarely would make headlines before his arrest. But the judge paid close attention to testimony Monday about whether Griffin knew that he was crossing barriers or otherwise entering areas off limits to the public and the reason the barriers were erected. But, he hasnt revealed the identity of his son. Any further details regarding Kourtnie have not been disclosed yet. Last year, he became the first elected official to be banished from elected office in connection with the Capitol incursion. Griffin never complied with the agreement. The Court concludes that Mr. Griffins crossing of barricades to approach the Capitol were overt acts in support of the insurrection, as Griffins presence closer to the Capitol building increased the insurrectionists intimidation by numbers, wrote Mathew, who was appointed to the bench by former Republican Gov. If you find yourself getting wet over an elected official you are no longer using your mind or good senses. The verdict from a 12-member jury capped a two-day trial in Alamogordo, the community where Griffin served as an Otero County commissioner until he was banished from office last year for his role in the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Mr. The judge said Griffin also repeatedly has defied health orders to put a mask on his son at public events and has openly said he will continue to do so. The motion said Couy Griffin "has publicly expressed views and opinions which have incited threats of violence" to his ex-wife and son. A jury will consider this week whether the support group Cowboys for Trump and cofounder Couy Griffin violated state election law by failing to register as a political organization without. (AP Photo/Morgan Lee, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. 10h. the judge asked. New Mexico Supreme Court: Juveniles who plead can appeal adult sentences, Colorado State slices up Lobos; UNM is a 6 seed in league tourney, If it MUST be the NIT, UNM basketball has a plan, After bill was vetoed last year, lawmakers try again to boost pay of NM judges, Gun safe storage bill inches closer to governor's desk after winning Senate approval. If convicted, Griffin faces up to a year in prison on each of the two charges against him: trespassing and disorderly conduct on restricted Capitol grounds. All Rights Reserved. US District Judge Trevor McFadden heard one day of testimony without a jury on Monday before handing down a verdict in the misdemeanor case against Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin, a. The Audience's Response Will Give You Goosebumps, 'He's a Stupid Rapper': Gang Member Charged with Murder After Police Hear His Latest Song, 'Ouch': 11 House Democrats Reportedly Snubbed Biden for a Concert, 'Pure Theater': Greta Thunberg 'Detained' at Protest, But Look What Happens After Police Let Her Down, Elderly Man Pulls Out Six-Shooter and Fires Back After Being Shot in Leg by Two Alleged Armed Robbers, Read the Entire Explosive $50 Million Gen. Flynn Lawsuit Against the US Government, Op-Ed: The Pro-Life Movement Has a Golden Opportunity, But Only if We Work Together. Regardless, they said the law only requires that Pence was at the complex or "would be" returning to prove that Griffin unlawfully entered a Secret Service-protected area. Jurors deliberated for more than nine hours before delivering the verdict. "I would rather these allegation brought forward be heard from a group of peers rather than a (former Gov. A copy of the check was included in the warrant packet. Updated: March 23, 2022 - 2:43 PM Published: January 6, 2022 - 1:40 PM ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Couy Griffin, Cowboys for Trump founder and Otero County commissioner, was arrested last year for his. In the cross-examination of Struck, a defense lawyer for Griffin used his questioning to underscore that the "Cowboys for Trump" co-founder was not violent on January 6 and did not enter the Capitol building itself. Unlike that trial, which featured felony charges, Griffin was accused only of misdemeanor offenses. Plenty of history very bad history was made on Jan. 6, 2021. Search warrants filed by the AGs Office earlier this month show the office is searching GoFundMe accounts associated with Cowboys for Trump, Griffin and Casey Conlee established since Jan. 20, 2019. Couy Griffin Career Griffin was found taking active participation in the 2021 US Capitol riots and was arrested for the same on 8th January 2021. . Do any of her businesses contract with the county? In July 2020, a check from a bank account for Cowboys for Trump was sent to Griffins ex-wife for child support. As per the United States District Courts affidavit for the District, he was arrested for violating the law, entering the restricted building without lawful authority. (Griffin) chose not to take it. Couy Griffin has been barred from in-person visits with his son due to social media posts that have produced threats and for refusing to comply with the requirements of the COVID-19 mask. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. It would be helpful if they would take this opportunity to rule really for the first time what Section 3 means.. Griffin told The Associated Press hes had to make sacrifices for his beliefs and didnt think it was fair that the court will keep his son away from him.
