Struck received immunity for his testimony. Couy Dale Griffin (born 1973) is a former politician who served from 2019 to 2022 as a county commissioner for District 2 of Otero County, New Mexico, which covers Tularosa, Three Rivers, La Luz, the western parts of Alamogordo, and the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Prosecutors later acknowledged that Harris had in fact left the vicinity beforehand and cleaned up their error in charging and other documents. "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. U.S. Donald Trump Qanon Las vegas Capitol Riots. 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. It doesnt bother local leadership that Couy has made this EXACT same trip time and time again, through donations for whatever cause will pay. The sheer number of members of Congress who voted both against certifying the election and, later, to convict Donald Trump at his impeachment trial had few if any historical parallels. That's what Otero County's District 2 Commissioner Couy Griffin alleged at a May 17 gathering in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. In my next musing I will explore Couys court records more thoroughly. But when it was operational, it offered options to donate to the organization by direct donation or by purchasing merchandise. Otero County Commission member and Cowboys for Trump co-founder Couy Griffin rides his horse on 5th avenue on May 1, 2020 in New York City. A two-day trial was scheduled to start Tuesday, Feb. 28, 2023, in Alamogordo, N.M. Horoscope for Friday, 3/03/23 by Christopher Renstrom, No seriously, dont drive up to Tahoe this weekend, Wife of Jeffrey Vandergrift issues somber update, Snowboarder dies at Tahoe ski resort following historic blizzard, Scream publicity stunt floods Bay Area dispatch with 911 calls, The best fried chicken is at a San Francisco strip club, Rain reenters Bay Area forecast: Have an umbrella near you, The Warriors broke Russell Westbrook, just like old times, Mochi muffin bakery closes SF cafe after just 4 months, Oakland ransomware attackers leak 'confidential' data, Arrest in killing of woman seen running through Tahoe campground, How to get tickets for Depeche Mode's new tour dates. Mr. Couy Griffin, a 48-year-old Republican elected official from Alamogordo, N.M., and founder of a pro-Donald Trump grass-roots group, had challenged U.S. prosecutors to prove Pences whereabouts as he defends himself from misdemeanor counts of trespassing and disorderly conduct on grounds restricted from the public because of the presence of a Secret Service protectee. Otero County Commissioner and Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin is being investigated by the New Mexico Attorney Generals Office on grounds he violated the Campaign Reporting Act and the Governmental Conduct Act, and that he allegedly committed embezzlement, racketeering, money laundering and making or permitting a false voucher for public funds. 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. We had unknown individuals who were breaking through a security barrier, a site where we had protectees. Karl, ABCs chief Washington correspondent, said last November in promoting his new book, Betrayal: The Final Act of the Trump Show, that he had seen images taken by a White House photographer with Pence that day showing where he, his wife, Karen, and daughter Charlotte Pence Bond waited out the Capitol breach. On Sept. 23, 2019, Griffin submitted a travel voucher for $3,237, which included straight per-diem, meaning he did not submit receipts for the trip. A grain-mill fire broke out in New Zealand on Thursday, with a fire official saying the plant was being "treated as a crime scene.". 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. However, New Mexico State Auditor Brian Colon said the funds, donated to Griffin by G.B. Since early 2020, Griffin has resisted pressure to register the group as a political committee, including filing an unsuccessful petition with the 10th District Court of Appeals. and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). Testifying under oath Monday, Secret Service Inspector Lanelle R. Hawa confirmed that the secure location to which Pence was evacuated at 2:26 p.m. from the Senate chamber was a loading dock under the Senate plaza connected to the Capitol via the attached underground Capitol visitor center. Subscribe now to access decluttered news, chosen by you. Cowboys for Trump co-founder Couy Griffin was found not guilty Wednesday of a misdemeanor charge of failing to register a political committee at a trial in southern New Mexico . They include GOP gubernatorial nominees Doug Mastriano in Pennsylvania and Dan Cox in Maryland, who both organized buses for the Stop the Steal rally. A New Mexico judge on Tuesday removed Otero County commissioner Couy Griffin by invoking the 14th Amendments prohibition on those who engaged in insurrection from serving in office. In 2019, Griffin forged a group of rodeo acquaintances into the promotional group called Cowboys for Trump, which staged horseback parades to spread President Donald Trumps conservative message about gun rights, immigration controls and abortion restrictions. 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. Wearing his signature black cowboy hat, "Cowboys for Trump" founder Couy Griffin arrived Monday at a federal courthouse just blocks from the Capitol to stand trial on charges stemming from his alleged participation in the January 6, 2021, insurrection. Couy Griffin is one of thousands of Trump loyalists in public office charting an uncertain future ahead of the 2022 election cycle. Griffin never complied with the agreement. The ruling comes after lawyers for Griffins ex-wife, Kourtnie, filed an emergency motion in May to modify their custody and visitation agreement. If this ruling stands up on appeal, it sets a significant precedent for the next election cycle, said Gerard Magliocca, a constitutional scholar at Indiana University who has studied Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. The Washington Post has reported that at least 163 Republicans who have embraced Trumps false claims are running for statewide positions that would give them authority over the administration of elections. For that official to attack a private citizen who is upset that the County Commissioner for his district is engaging in Fraud is troubling to say the least. 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. as well as other partner offers and accept our. In August 2019, Griffin went to Washington, D.C., for a conference. SANTA FE, N.M. -. Also worth weighing here, Hemel noted, is whether disqualification is an appropriate remedy. 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. Couy Griffin's Wife, Children Griffin is currently single, he was previously married to his girlfriend Kourtnie A Gates, but they were divorced in 2019. 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. 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. 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. 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. Another state lawmaker, then-West Virginia state Del. 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. But, he hasnt revealed the identity of his son. The judge in the case, District Judge Francis J. Mathew, was unsparing in ruling that Griffin is disqualified from office. (Griffin did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 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. At the same time, Griffins conviction was for misdemeanor trespassing, for which he was sentenced to 14 days and a $3,000 fine. 2023 www.alamogordonews.com. 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. Griffin said in a text message that he felt blessed to be judged by a jury of peers in his home community and has never felt as vindicated.". You may opt out at anytime. On Monday, federal prosecutors displayed video footage in McFadden's courtroom showing Griffin climbing a makeshift ramp as he approached the Capitol. 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. Dewey is from Windom, Minnesota . Prosecutors had argued that revealing Pences exact whereabouts could endanger future heads of state and other Secret Service protectees at the Capitol, and that agency would not disclose any details for national security reasons. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. Griffin, a county commissioner in New Mexico, is the second accused participant in the Capitol attack to go to trial on January 6-related charges. 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. 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. 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. New Mexico Supreme Court: Juveniles who plead can appeal Ruling stems from the case of Christopher Rodriguez, who was sentenced as an adult to 14 years in prison for his role in the San Juan sheriff shoots dog during off-duty traffic stop, Luna County man charged in brothers beating death. The Associated Press was the first private sector organization in the U.S. to operate on a national scale. Couy Griffin, the founder of the Cowboys for Trump group, appeared to turn on the former president . All Rights Reserved. Cowboys for Trump also had a GoFundMe account set up in January 2020 to raise money for legal expenses. But legal experts say the ruling in New Mexico is significant nonetheless especially if it holds up. Aug. 14Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin will face off in court Monday against three New Mexicans who argue in a lawsuit that he should be removed from his post as an Otero County commissioner for participating in an insurrection against the United States. Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). ", Get caught up:Otero Commissioners to discuss calls for resignation of Couy Griffin on Thursday. You want to say that was violence? California Gov. Trumps attack on democracy after the November 2020 election started out as an attempt to use the judicial process to deprive voters of their choice of leader. Unlike that trial, which featured felony charges, Griffin was accused only of misdemeanor offenses. It would be helpful if they would take this opportunity to rule really for the first time what Section 3 means.. 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. Begging for donations for the trip, for legal fees, for tires, new wipers, food, etc. Couy Griffin, who was charged for breaching the Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, is disappointed the former president didn't follow through on his promise to jail Hillary Clinton. I use very sharp words, dripping with sarcasm but in person, I would do anything for anyone regardless of their politics. Griffin also said the reelection campaign for Trump would distance itself from Cowboys for Trump after Griffin posted the video. Although Griffin's trip to Washington, D.C. in September 2019 was initially for the proper reason of attending a regional county . At the outset of the bench trial, McFadden confirmed that Griffin wanted his verdict decided by a judge rather than a jury. So, weve not sufficient information about his parents and siblings. 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. Do any of her businesses contract with the county? Note: This photo has been removed from the White House Flickr page. Nothing is more foul and disgusting than hero worship. In addition to those legal arguments, the Justice Department asserted that pinpointing Pence's precise location on January 6 would jeopardize the continuing security of future vice presidents, including Vice President Kamala Harris. Sign up for notifications from Insider! In a Jan. 14, 2021, county commission meeting, Griffin said that he knew Mike Pence had certified a fraudulent election before he walked toward the Capitol grounds, and that he was part of a crowd that just pushed through plastic mesh fencing securing the inauguration area, albeit toward the back. Vice President Mike Pence was taken to an underground Senate loading dock after rioters breached the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and spent four to five hours there under guard with his wife and daughter, the Secret Service confirmed Monday for the first time. Magliocca said the New Mexico decision could reverberate, not just for people like Mastriano, but if Democrats retain control of Congress and want to challenge the seating of certain Republicans tied to Jan. 6. The testimony resolves a mystery over Pences precise location during the attack, which defense attorneys for Griffin had sought to exploit and won permission from a federal judge in Washington to probe with a live Secret Service witness over the Justice Departments objections. But his defenses claim that prosecutors must prove that Griffin knew that Pence was present at the Capitol or planned to return also poses ramifications for hundreds of others charged with a similar misdemeanor count. Why on earth would someone put their reputation on the line for a person who is being exposed as a fraud and financial scammer? Effort to bar Jan. 6 figures from office notches historic win. He is also awaiting trialon charges ofknowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authorityfor his alleged role in the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol. Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin speaks during a presentation led by David and Erin Clements on election vulnerabilities during a special meeting of the Otero County Board of Commissioners . So, we are still unknown about his actual net worth and earnings he receives from his job. And while circumstances might make that difficult to replicate, its nonetheless a historic marker of what transpired 20 months ago. Griffin has demonstrably taken official acts for personal financial interest, submitted a false public voucher and, on one known occasion, has used funds from a C4T bank account to pay for personal expenses, including his child support obligations, according to court filings. When two thugs tried to attack an elderly man, he pulled out his own weapon and fired back, scaring them away. Oliver, the Alamogordo Chamber of commerce Executive Director, were the basis of an investigation. As per edailybuzz, Couy Griffin is married to his wife, Kourtnie A Gates. 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 want to destroy our country. Seriously girl, its time to come off your knees and wipe your chin. 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.). But she did not take her minor child to war with her as Couy Griffin is doing by taking their son to President Donald Trump campaign events during a pandemic, the attorneys said. Last year, he became the first elected official to be banished from elected office in connection with the attack on the U.S. Capitol building, which disrupted Congress as it was trying to certify President Joe Bidens 2020 election victory. Their son was born in 2014. Prosecutors entered into evidence Monday videos recording Griffins activities in Washington and his statements explaining his conduct before and after, including several taken by a witness who was granted immunity, a videographer and friend who traveled with Griffin to Washington. How Republicans became the party of Trumps election lie after Jan. 6, It is wild to see that he was in a loading dock in an underground parking garage beneath the Capitol complex, Karl said during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. There was no place to sit, no desk, no chairs, nothing.. He was one of 10 more people to be arrested on Saturday and Sunday. "There's nothing illegal about that You feel clearheaded now?" However, the go Whether its riding for Israel or doing the Covid Canter. Its the first time a U.S. president has sought to interrupt the peaceful transfer of power. With Struck on the stand, prosecutors played one video in which Griffin recounted members of the pro-Trump mob spilling over barriers outside the Capitol. Couy Griffin is a white man from Tularosa, Otero County, New Mexico, United States. For example, I can be a real asshole in writing. "He had as much right to due process as we do and the judge very much made it clear and afforded him that right. 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. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. (Griffin is the founder of a group called Cowboys for Trump, which has been promoted by the former president. The hearing was only to establish probable cause, in other words to determine if there wasevidence of truth to the charges alleged. Griffin never complied with the agreement. Photo credit: @AP on Twitter. General Flynn is suing the federal government for $50 million. Defense attorney Jonathan Miller portrayed Griffin as 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. if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'millionsofcelebs_com-box-4','ezslot_4',121,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-millionsofcelebs_com-box-4-0');Is Couy Griffin married? Bei der Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps verwenden wir, unsere Websites und Apps fr Sie bereitzustellen, Nutzer zu authentifizieren, Sicherheitsmanahmen anzuwenden und Spam und Missbrauch zu verhindern, und, Ihre Nutzung unserer Websites und Apps zu messen, personalisierte Werbung und Inhalte auf der Grundlage von Interessenprofilen anzuzeigen, die Effektivitt von personalisierten Anzeigen und Inhalten zu messen, sowie, unsere Produkte und Dienstleistungen zu entwickeln und zu verbessern. In July 2020, a check from a bank account for Cowboys for Trump was sent to Griffins ex-wife for child support. Success in the latter scenario remains unlikely, especially in the absence of a criminal conviction. 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. Advocates for that approach now have a victory under their belts, though. Prosecutors rested their case after Hawas testimony, but McFadden called her to return Tuesday morning. The motion said Couy Griffin has publicly expressed views and opinions which have incited threats of violence to his ex-wife and son. If you find yourself getting wet over an elected official you are no longer using your mind or good senses. The extent of his criminal activity is the subject of this investigation.. Third Judicial District court Judge Manuel Arrieta determined probable cause existed to proceed with a recall lawsuit filed against Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin, initiating procedures to remove Griffin from public office. Lets not forget that free food from ranchers too. . Still waiting on jury deliberations. 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's attorney also accused state campaign finance regulators of bias and singling out Cowboys for Trump for enforcement. In response to the allegations, Griffin said in the April 7 email that "As far as Im concerned I will stand on the same principle Ive stated over and over. 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. Get the latest news delivered right to your email. What the hell are the donations for exactly? 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. City of Albuquerque goes to court to shut down City says the property puts the community at risk, but owner says it's unfair to blame businesses for Albuquerque crime and homelessness, Albuquerque Police: Man shoots self, unintentionally kills woman. Any special treatment given to her because of her Republican leadership position? By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider He shouldn't be punished for showing his pride in his country, Miller said. Couy is the professional Otero County Commissioner who made headlines in the news after FBI agents arrested him on Sunday on 17 January 2021. Is the only good Democrat a dead Democrat? Susana Martinez. Over the past 170 years, they have been first to inform the world of many of history's most important moments, from the assassination of Abraham Lincoln and the bombing of Pearl Harbor to the fall of the Shah of Iran and the death of Pope John Paul. 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. It states his conduct resultedin his banishment from the Mescalero Apache Reservation, that he used county resources for non-commission reasons namely forGriffin's political advocacy companyCowboys for Trump, filing an improper travel voucher and violating the Gift Act when he received approximately $3,500 from a restricted donor to pay back the travel reimbursement from the travel voucher. 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. 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. Email addresses are used solely for verification and to speed the verification process for repeat questioners. Otero County GOP Chairman Amy Smith Barela (ahhhh. In a written closing statement in court, he had argued that he had been at the Capitol to lobby vice president Mike Pence to not certify the election results, and that, In no way does that pertain to nor support insurrection/rebellion, reported the Albuquerque Journal. The board ultimately certified the election on a 2-1 vote with Griffin casting the lone no vote. "Cowboys for Trump" co-founder Couy Griffin was found not guilty Wednesday of a misdemeanor charge of failing to register a political committee at a trial in southern New Mexico. . 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. The dismissed charge against Griffin carried a potential punishment of up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine. Sign up for our free Daily Headlines newsletter Your . The second amended complaint against Griffin is 141 pages long and alleges failed to meet his duties as a public servant, including missing regular Otero County meetings. This is America, we play the National Anthem in America today.. The verdict gave the Department of Justice a second win . . Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. It is their calling by God that established this ministry. Supporters of President Donald Trump broke into the building, forcing the evacuation of Congress and Pence as they met to certify the electoral college results. He had a son with her, who currently lives with her. Jurors deliberated for more than nine hours before delivering the verdict. 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. The office alleged Griffin misused campaign donations associated with Cowboys for Trump to pay child support for his son. Published: Monday, February 15th, 2021 at 10:05PMUpdated: Monday, February 15th, 2021 at 10:13PM.
How To Open A Champion Safe, Articles C