In September 2022, it was employed by a judge in New Mexico, who removed Couy Griffin, a county commissioner in Otero County, from office for his participation in the January 6 insurrection. He breached security barriers outside of the building and eventually assumed a leadership role in the mob and egged on the violence, Mathew said in his ruling. This story has been shared 182,853 times. "(Griffin) became constitutionally disqualified from federal and state positions specified (under the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment, Section 3) and forfeited his current office as Otero County Commissioner effective Jan. 6, 2021," Mathew's ruling states. His name is Hiram., Griffin: As God as my witness I do not know his last name. Now he has regrets., In middle of Jan. 6 riot, Oath Keepers chief reached out to Proud Boys. Griffin was booted from the board earlier in the week by court order due to his participation in the 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. All of this would suggest to a normal person that perhaps you should not be entering the area. The judge added that Griffin said in videos he recorded the next day and Jan. 14 that he joined a crowd that pushed through fencing into areas roped off by police for the inauguration. He was being extremely loud, climbing over barriers, engaging with the crowd, she said in her closing arguments. 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WASHINGTON A federal judge on Tuesday convicted an elected official from New Mexico of illegally entering restricted US Capitol grounds but acquitted him of engaging in disorderly conduct duringthe riotthat disrupted Congress from certifyingJoe Bidens presidential election victory. [1], Recall supporters filed paperwork on March 11, 2021. Coronavirus: Otero County approves out-of-state travel resolution School districts | Both carry maximum sentences of one years imprisonment. Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin back in court - KRQE The Soldiers' Monument, also known as The Obelisk, was toppled by Indigenous Peoples Dayactivists in October 2020, an event which has already resulted in five arrests. Judge removes Griffin from office for engaging in the January 6 [7][8], Recall supporters listed five reasons for recall in their request to the Twelfth District Court, including:[2], At the recall hearing, Griffin called the recall supporters' allegations "frivolous, baseless and politically motivated," according to the Associated Press. Now its no longer the peoples choice. Mr. Griffins removal and bar from holding office again is a step towards obtaining justice and restoring the rule of law, Dodd Law Office, LLC President Christopher Dodd said in a Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington news release. Couy Griffin, a county commissioner in Otero County, New Mexico, speaks on June 17 outside federal court in Washington, D.C., where he was convicted of entering a restricted area during the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. Source New Mexico is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Griffin won election in 2018 with 65 percent of the vote but is not seeking reelection. Otero County Commission Vice-Chairman Couy Griffin sponsored two resolutions on the Commission's agenda: one calling for the FBI to investigate the destruction of the Soldier's Monument in Santa Fe, and another labeling New Mexico Gov. State District Court Judge Francis Mathew wrote in his decision that Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin, founder of a group called "Cowboys for Trump," violated Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution when he took part in the riot that left four people dead and 100 police officers injured, disqualifying him from holding local, state or federal office. District Court Judge Manuel Arrieta ruled in favor of the recall effort. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. And there is also footage of Griffin illegally breaching multiple security barriers and egging on violence by rallying rioters with a bullhorn. Email Amy Barela. | Griffin, one of three members of the Otero County Commission in southern New Mexico, is among a handful of riot defendants who either held. And in May, officials in Georgia ruled that Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene could remain on the ballot after her role in the Capitol riot. Social Services Annex: 215 Raton Ave. La Junta, CO 81050. Earlier this month, in the first trial, a juryconvicted a Texas man, Guy Wesley Reffitt, of storming the Capitol with a holstered handgun, interfering with police and obstructing Congress joint session to certify the Electoral College vote. And being in the audience of Thursdays meeting instead of being seated with the commissioners brought a specific feeling to his mind. The three New Mexicans were not the only ones who expressed interest in removing Griffin from office. More: Couy Griffin arrives for trial in Washington, D.C. Griffin is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17 in person in U.S. Federal Court. The resolution states that employees and elected . In his ruling on the case, Mathew contended that Griffin was not. Griffin is the co-founder and spokesman for the political advocacy group Cowboys for Trump. 1,584 Following. This conviction is an example of accountability and justice," Coln said. Ballotpedia features 408,500 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. 17, 2022. FILE - Otero County, New Mexico Commissioner Couy Griffin speaks to reporters as he arrives at federal court in Washington, June 17, 2022. Couy Griffin addresses reporters outside federal court in Washington on June 17. Fax: 575-443-2928. "We have been fortunate as a country to not have many episodes of insurrection and certainly not insurrections in which elected officials have played a part," Bookbinder says. 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 CommissionerCouy Griffin, a 48-year-old former rodeo rider who helped found a group called Cowboys for Trump. 0:36. In considering closing arguments submitted by Griffin in the case asking Mathew to consider the will of District 2 constituents, the judge said: "The irony of Mr. Griffin's argument that this Court should refrain from applying the law and consider the will of the people in District 2 of Otero County who retained him as a county commissioner against a recall effort as he attempts to defend his participation in an insurrection by a mob whose goal, by his own admission, was to set aside the results of a free, fair and lawful election by a majority of the people of the entire country (the will of the people) has not escaped this court.". Couy Griffin speaks for three minutes during the public comment period of the Otero County Commission meeting on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2022. All rights reserved. If you have questions about your subscription, please contact Customer Service at AlamogordoDailyNews@Gannett.com or call1-877-301-0013. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. White, Mitchell and Lakind were represented by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and the New Mexico-based law firms of Freedman Boyd Hollander and Goldberg P.A, Dodd Law Office, LLC, and the Law Office of Amber Fayerberg, LLC, as well as by Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC. Couy Griffin (@CowboyCouy) / Twitter Phone: 575-491-7265. All of this would suggest to a normal person that perhaps you should not be entering the area, McFadden said from the bench. But its been very difficult for me, Griffin said. Pinned Tweet. After being jailed in connection with the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Otero County Commission Vice Chairman Couy Griffin was back in attendance at the Feb. 11. January 6, 2021 was a dark day in our history. A criminal court convicted Griffin of misdemeanor trespassing on Jan. 6, which he plans to appeal. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. After a tense back-and-forth about who drafted the pleadings, Judge Francis Mathew denied the motion. In his ruling on the case, Mathew contended that Griffin was not eligible to . Judge: Now Imgoing to ask you again, who drafted those pleadings? Otero County, N.M., Commissioner Couy Griffin was arrested Sunday for illegally entering the Capitol on Jan. 6. Judge Mathew ordered that effective immediately, Griffin is "barred for life" from serving as a senator, congressman, elector or from holding any civil or military office federally or in any state. New Mexico county commissioner first to be removed from office over Jan State legislature | Jail guards snapped photos of Griffin in his cell like he was a monkey, Smith told the judge. Feb 24 Who is the guy in the blue jacket? Sept 6 (Reuters) - A New Mexico county commissioner became the first public official to lose their job for participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol when a state judge on Tuesday ruled that the Republican violated the U.S. Constitution by engaging in an insurrection. Amy Barela | Otero County, NM This story has been updated with a statement from Couy Griffin and more information about the recall. Monday - Friday 8 am to 5 pm. Tweets. Griffin represented himself during a two-day bench trial last month in District Court in Santa Fe. 2023 www.alamogordonews.com. "I do regret the actions of many on that day that fought with police officers and destroyed government property," he says. But the case against Griffin is unlike most Jan. 6 cases and may not be a bellwether for defendants who are charged with storming the Capitol. Cities | Griffin: A friend of mine in Roswell, New Mexico. Griffin is fighting to . Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile. While reading his verdict, he said Griffin was not on the steps. If you have questions about your subscription, please contact Customer Service atAlamogordoDailyNews@Gannett.com or call1-877-301-0013. He claims the plaintiffs in the case were from liberal counties in the state and were being supported by liberal groups. Otero County Directory | Otero County This article originally appeared on Alamogordo Daily News: Couy Griffin removed from District 2 Otero County Commissioner seat, U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment's Disqualification Clause, Couy Griffin removed from District 2 Otero County Commissioner seat. hide caption. The ruling also states that although the plaintiffs in the case presented evidence to support their claim, Griffin did not present any evidence for his defense. The Commission meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Griffin's attendance was not confirmed at the meeting, as a federal district court arraignmentwas scheduled for the same time and day. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Public policy. "[7][11][12], New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas (D) also called for Griffin's resignation in a letter published on January 16, 2021. Public Works, Land Use, & Building Department: 411 N 10th St. Rocky Ford, CO 81067 (719) 383-3035. Ryan Lowery is an award-winning independent journalist based in Albuquerque. Maureen Cohen Harrington via Storyful, Storyful, was found guiltyin federal court March 22. Local news, weather, sports, events, restaurants and more, Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin guilty in first Jan. 6 misdemeanor trial, 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. NEW MEXICO(KRQE) The trial for Otero County Commissioner and Cowboys for Trump founder, Couy Griffin begins Monday in Santa Fe. Griffin was removed from office under theU.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment's Disqualification Clause, which states that an elected official may be removed from their position for acts against the government, including insurrection which some experts have labeled the events of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots. Source New Mexico maintains editorial independence. Griffin says he was not violent while at the Capitol that day and wasn't aware that he was trespassing at the time. The resolution also alleges thegovernor's emergency powerswere meant for short-term issues andthat "the use by state officials of emergency power for extended periods is antidemocratic and is danger to the rights of the people," the resolution reads. Official Couy Griffin found guilty of illegally entering Capitol After climbing over a stone wall and entering a restricted area outside the Capitol, Griffin said, This is our house we should all be armed, according to prosecutors. It is named for Miguel Antonio Otero, the territorial governor when the county was created. The judge also said it would be preposterous to require the Secret Service, before it could enforce a given security perimeter, to announce in advance that a person under its protection was present. A county official in New Mexico who was convicted of entering a restricted area during the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol must be immediately removed from office for his involvement in an insurrection, a judge decided Tuesday. Amy Barela District 2 Commissioner. Otero County, New Mexico Commissioner Couy Griffin speaks to reporters as he arrives at federal court in Washington, Friday, June. Prior to the verdict, the New Mexico Attorney General's Office discussed what a conviction would mean for the Otero County Commission, where Griffin holds the District 2 seat. Couy Griffin, an Otero County commissioner, responded to questioning in court, after watching a video of himself on U.S. Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, 2021. Judge Mathews decision is a signal to elected officials everywhere who want to snub their noses at the constitution, foment mob violence and disobey the law, said Mario Jimenez, executive director of Common Cause New Mexico, in a news release. I love the smell of napalm in the air, Griffin said in an apparent reference to a quote from the war movie Apocalypse Now.. And though hes been removed from his seat on the county commission, Griffin showed that he wont be silenced when it comes to county matters and is more than willing to address decisions made by his former colleagues as a private citizen. ", Mares did not elaborate on what "moral turpitude" entails. That is offensive and wrong, Smith told the judge during his brief opening statements. That is our County Commissioners as well as County Sheriffs. The Otero County Commissioners have had enough of Cowboys for Trump leader Couy Griffin. Griffin was unhappy that Stephanie DuBois, a Democrat, was appointed to his old seat . Protecting our democracy cannot be optional the people of Otero County deserve elected officials committed to protecting and upholding our laws.. But McFadden acquitted the defendant of disorderly conduct, finding prosecutors had not proved he was acting knowingly to disrupt a government proceeding. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Those actions must have occurred during the official's current term of office in order for a recall effort to be approved to circulate petitions. District 2 Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin, 48 of Tularosa, was found guilty in federal court March 22 during a bench trial for trespassing on federal grounds during the during the . Couy Griffin is no longer the District 2 Otero County Commissioner per a ruling by District Judge Francis Mathew. Otero County, N.M., Commissioner Couy Griffin stands outside the federal court after receiving a verdict in his trial on March 22, 2022 in Washington. According to the judge's ruling, Griffin's group, called Cowboys for Trump, "played a key role in Stop the Steal mobilization efforts" ahead of Jan. 6, 2021. Our elected officials and candidatesmust obey the law. Griffins attorneys say hundreds if not thousands of other people did exactly what Griffin did on Jan. 6 and havent been charged with any crimes. Come to Source NM for fresh reporting, insightful opinion and analysis from around the state. Counties | "This is very evident of the tyranny that is raising its head up in our country.". Recall supporters filed paperwork on March 11, 2021. State executives | Couy Griffin is no longer the District 2 Otero County Commissioner per a ruling by District Judge Francis Mathew. NEW MEXICO (KRQE) -The trial for Otero County Commissioner and Cowboys for Trump founder, Couy Griffin begins Monday in Santa Fe. Elections in 2023 | [4] The New Mexico Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's ruling on June 28, 2021, allowing the recall effort to move forward. We've received your submission. The case against Griffin was initially filed in March by three New Mexico residents who argued Griffin should be removed from his elected position for violating the Constitution, specifically because of his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. "I don't think it's fair to accuse me of insurrection," he says. 7 Apr. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. The list includes 69 candidates for governor in 30 states, as well as 55 candidates for the U.S. Senate, 13 candidates for state attorney general and 18 candidates for secretary of state in places where that person is the states top election official. He covers politics and criminal justice and has reported on New Mexico for the Las Vegas Optic, Santa Fe Reporter, Los Angeles Times and others. We are actively considering all options under New Mexico law. State District Court Judge Francis Mathew wrote in his decision that Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin, founder of a group called "Cowboys for Trump," violated Section 3 of the 14th. [10] Griffin said he would not resign. Griffin was arrested on Jan. 18, 2021after being charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building relating to his participation in theCapitol riot. "I was shocked by the response from the court. At trial last month for the civil lawsuit, Griffin unsuccessfully sought to dismiss the case, the Journal reported. Recall supporters did not collect enough signatures by the deadline on September 28, 2021. The ruling also states that although the plaintiffs in the case presented evidence to support their claim, Griffin did not present any evidence for his defense. Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on Twitter at @nicmaxreporter. Nobody thinks a random tourist could sort of climb up there, right? McFadden said. Each speaker was given three minutes to address the commission, and Griffin used his time to discuss two items on the agenda funding for a road and a contract extension for the county attorney. On Jan. 6, Griffin joined thousands of people at the Capitol. Griffin, the head of a group called Cowboys for Trump, claims he got. Couy Griffin arrives for trial in Washington, D.C. Cowboys for Trump founder guilty of illegally entering US Capitol grounds in Jan. 6 riot, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Misogyny is fueling the countrys gun violence epidemic,. Amy Barela District 2 Commissioner. Griffins trial posed a different legal test, requiring U.S. prosecutors to prove that the defendant knowingly breached a restricted area where then-Vice President Mike Pence or others receiving Secret Service protection were or would be present. The Otero County Commission held a special meeting on Monday afternoon to discuss a resolution about county employees or elected officials who travel of state.. McFadden found they did, after forcing the Secret Service to publicly confirm for the first time that Pence was evacuated to an underground Senate loading dock and remained there for four to five hours on the afternoon of Jan. 6. Otero County, New Mexico - Wikipedia [2][3] Griffin appealed that decision to the New Mexico Supreme Court on April 19, 2021. Recall supporters would have had to collect 1,574 signatures from registered voters in District 2 in 90 days to get the recall on the ballot. couy griffin ex wife - hrts.com.mx Federal courts | Arguably, he was trying to calm people down, not rile them up, he said. Instead, he showed up as a passenger in a pickup truck that had a horse trailer on the back. | , Photos: Sky News 13 flies over Good Friday pilgrimages, PHOTOS: Storm moves through New Mexico leaving snow, Snow causes difficult driving conditions across NM, Map: New Mexico Veterans Monuments and Memorials, BestReviews.com - Top gifts to make everyone happy this spring, Surprise your mom with one of these Mothers Day, Mothers Day inspo: This foot massager has 20,000, Drew Barrymores Walmart collection is perfect for, Best Mothers Day gifts for the budding plant mom, 13 Broadcast Pl SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Nichols, and awarded a nearly $50,000 contract to audit about 24,000 votes to Echomail, which was among the companies who audited the 2020 vote in Maricopa County, AZ. Failing to be present at county commission meetings, Being unable to perform his duties within his district due to being banned from the sovereign nation and lands of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, Filming a video inside the County Commission Administration building to solicit funds for a political organization, Filing a travel voucher with the county to pay for events that did not relate to his duties as a county commissioner, Soliciting and receiving a donation from a restricted donor. Couy Griffin recall, Otero County, New Mexico (2021), States that have pre-petition signature requirements for recalls, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Couy_Griffin_recall,_Otero_County,_New_Mexico_(2021)&oldid=8562281, Pages using DynamicPageList3 dplreplace parser function, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections.
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