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. Their teams in over 100 countries tell the worlds stories, from breaking news to investigative reporting. But when it was operational, it offered options to donate to the organization by direct donation or by purchasing merchandise. General Flynn is suing the federal government for $50 million. Arrieta was assigned to the recall case after all of the 12th Judicial District judges recused themselves. Griffin chose to drive his own personal diesel-fueled pickup truck with large C4T stickers on the drivers and passenger side doors, court records state. 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. Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on Twitter at @nicmaxreporter. 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. On the witness stand, Struck said he used to post videos on his Twitter account "before it was shut down.". Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd called the suspect a bad rapper and also compared him to a "baby" at a news conference. And a judge acquitted him of disorderly conduct. The office alleged Griffin misused campaign donations associated with Cowboys for Trump to pay child support for his son. For years, Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin has been Donald Trump's most flamboyant supporter in New Mexico, creating spectacles and controversy in equal measure. 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. 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 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 original civil complaintwas filed March 11 with amended complaints filed March 24 and April 5 by the Committee to Recall Couy Griffin. Note: This photo has been removed from the White House Flickr page. Griffin, the Cowboys for Trump founder and an Otero County commissioner, was arrested in Washington on Jan. 17, 2021, after allegedly posting a video on Facebook of himself on the inauguration stage next to the Capitol within the barricaded perimeter of its grounds during the Jan. 6 siege. 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. Its the first time a U.S. president has sought to interrupt the peaceful transfer of power. Federal prosecutors have offered Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin a plea agreement over charges that he illegally entered barricades during the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol on January. He was one of 10 more people to be arrested on Saturday and Sunday. 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.). Professionally, Kourtnie is an Iraqi war veteran. "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. See you never really know who is nice and who is not. (Griffin is the founder of a group called Cowboys for Trump, which has been promoted by the former president. SANTA FE, N.M., Otero County, New Mexico Commissioner Couy Griffin must be removed from office and disqualified from holding future public office under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution based on his participation in the January 6, 2021 insurrection, according to a lawsuit filed today by a group of New Mexico residents. ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (KRQE) -Otero County Commissioner and Cowboys for Trump leader Couy Griffin is proposing to fully reopen his county, breaking the state's public health order. Photo credit: @AP on Twitter. But the jury wasn't persuaded. RIO RANCHO, N.M. (AP) The leader of the New Mexico group Cowboys for Trump has been barred from in-person visits with his son following social media posts that have generated threats and for refusing to abide by COVID-19 mask requirements, a state district judge ruled. Dewey is from Windom, Minnesota . 86. Greta Thunberg gets detained in Sweden in her typical theatrical flare carried by two female police officers. But only certain parts of the Constitution and only some of the time. Indeed, Griffin has been that talk of the town since the news of his arrest swirled in the media. Still, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas reportedly had issued the statement demanding Griffins resignation from his current post as Mexico County Commissioner. Since Jan. 6, activists have sought to disqualify several members of Congress who supported questioning or overturning the 2020 election results, including Reps. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.), Jim Banks (R-Ind.) (AP Photo/Morgan Lee, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Oliver, the Alamogordo Chamber of commerce Executive Director, were the basis of an investigation. 10h. Judge Trevor McFadden served as a top Justice Department official in the Trump administration before the Senate confirmed him in 2017 to the federal trial court in Washington, DC. Whether this will ultimately stand up if appealed remains a major question and one that could have far-ranging implications. But this is also a man who beat a "Mom and Pop business" that has 5 kids out of thousands of dollars. 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. Griffin was previously convicted in federal court of a misdemeanor for entering restricted U.S. Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, without going inside the building. In a reversal, Biden said he would sign a resolution blocking a D.C. effort to reduce penalties for violent crimes. He had a son with her, who currently lives with her. 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. Griffin has five calendar days to file an appeal to the New Mexico Supreme Court. Also, he could be white by ethnicity. 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 . Miller, a public defender, said Griffins 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. 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. Another state lawmaker, then-West Virginia state Del. FILE - Otero County, New Mexico Commissioner Couy Griffin speaks to reporters as he arrives at federal court in Washington, June 17, 2022. 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. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in more than a dozen counties as the typically warm state digs out from rare snowstorms. 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. 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. Who is Couy Griffin? Series of issues initiates Couy Griffin recall effort. "Recall is intended to be difficult and it is intended to be a very serious matter,"Ivey-Soto said. Federal judge reverses detention order for N.M. county commissioner facing trial in Jan. 6 riot. New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver is a Democrat who has called Trump the election denier-in-chief.. 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. Conlee set up the original Cowboys for Trump GoFundMe page, court records show. This would explain why Couys GoFundMe Page has beneficiary as a Deborah Foley, not Couy Griffin or his sister Kayrn Kay Griffin as being the beneficiary for supposedly Couys Legal Fund. Here are 13 more things about Couy: So, there are details about his age and birthday at the moment. However, New Mexico State Auditor Brian Colon said the funds, donated to Griffin by G.B. 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. Susana Martinez. District Judge Mary Rosner ruled July 14 that Couy Griffin can only see his son on Facetime calls after he ignored orders to remove social media photos of his son at Cowboys for Trump events. Success in the latter scenario remains unlikely, especially in the absence of a criminal conviction. 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. Here is the entire draft filing he's going to hit them with. Wenn Sie Ihre Auswahl anpassen mchten, klicken Sie auf Datenschutzeinstellungen verwalten. 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. A copy of the check was included in the warrant packet. 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. A Luna County man was arrested Monday for allegedly beating his older brother to death while he slept at their home outside of Deming. Derrick Evans, was sentenced to three months in jail this summer for committing civil disorder on Jan. 6. In July 2020, a check from a bank account for Cowboys for Trump was sent to Griffin's ex-wife for child support. Couy Griffins career background is not sufficiently transparent as his bio cannot be found on Wikipedia. I got a better idea, why dont you go back to Africa and form your little football teams over in Africa and you can play on a(n) old beat-out dirt lot and you can play your Black national anthem there. 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. Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. So, weve not sufficient information about his parents and siblings. 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. 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. 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. A January 6-related trial began Monday in the case of "Cowboys for Trump" founder Couy Griffin. The dismissed charge against Griffin carried a potential punishment of up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine. Is the only good Democrat a dead Democrat? Struck received immunity for his testimony. 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.". 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. You know, and if we do, then its going to be a sad day, because theres going to be blood running out of that building. 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. 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. Any special treatment given to her because of her Republican leadership position? The extent of his criminal activity is the subject of this investigation.. Here you have Couy Griffin as Cowboys For Trump not only hiding assets from his ex-wife and son. Besides being Mexico County Commissioner, he is also the founder of the group namedCowboys for Trump. I would have wanted him to have the opportunity to argue his points here," Sanchez said. Get the latest news delivered right to your email. 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. In August 2019, Griffin went to Washington, D.C., for a conference. 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. A jury will consider this week whether the support group . Sign up for notifications from Insider! "I would rather these allegation brought forward be heard from a group of peers rather than a (former Gov. 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.). If you dont believe me, ask all those who thought Dennis Rader was such a nice guy. While Griffin was present at the hearing, he was able to answer to the allegations against him and rebut Committee To Recall CouyGriffin President Paul Sanchez. If you find yourself getting wet over an elected official you are no longer using your mind or good senses. 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. 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.". Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. The group said this week seek arbitration in a fight with the New Mexico Secretary of State over fines and required reports. But this is also a man who beat a Mom and Pop business that has 5 kids out of thousands of dollars. Griffin is reviled and revered in. If we quit we lose. This is America, we play the National Anthem in America today.. He shouldn't be punished for showing his pride in his country, Miller said. 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. The day-long trial is also expected to feature video footage of the January 14, 2021 meeting of the Otero County commissioners, where Griffin addressed his involvement in the Capitol attack. "Pretty soon, it was like a huge, amazing Trump rally," Griffin said. Struck responded "no" as the lawyer asked whether Griffin had destroyed anything, confronted law enforcement, or taken any action that would put someone in fear. 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. What now? I dont know but I will find out. Cowboys for Trump . Griffin ignores the fact that his position as an elected official puts him in a different and nonprotected category from other rioters, McFadden said. You want to say that was a mob? Griffins attorney also said state campaign finance regulators were biased and singled out Cowboys for Trump for enforcement. But U.S. District Judge Trevor N. McFadden ruled late last week that the defense had a bedrock right to challenge the governments evidence establishing that Griffin violated restricted grounds. You can learn a lot about someone by the actions they take, not the words they use. Deputies arrest man in attempted robbery that led to Bernalillo County deputies arrested a man Bernalillo County deputies arrested a man in an armed robbery-turned-gunfight that left his alleged accomplice dead last year in Southwest Albuquerque. (Berger was later seated after his espionage conviction was overturned.). 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. . The text of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment states (key parts bolded): The last time elected officials were disqualified from office using the 14th Amendment appears to be 1869, shortly after the Civil War and the ratification of the 14th Amendment. We proceeded and the judge found for us.". 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. maybe thats the Freudian Slip Couy made when setting up @Baredown C4T FB page, well at least thats better than sister), will tout how Couy, C4T and the GOP are protecting the Constitution. "There's nothing illegal about that You feel clearheaded now?" It is unclear when McFadden will hand down his verdict. 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. Now its made even more history: Someone found to have engaged in insurrection that day has been disqualified from office, for what appears to be the first time in 150 years. It should be noted that New York City is over 200 miles north of Washington, D.C., and Griffin had to pass Washington to get there.. Harrowing video has emerged of a racially charged incident that rocked an elementary school in Springfield, Ohio. Couy Griffin is a white man from Tularosa, Otero County, New Mexico, United States. Arrietaexplained that this case does not warrant a jury trial since the April 8 hearing was most likely to be the only hearing in the case and that a verdict was not to be administered and if a recall petition is successful and a recall election imminent, then the voters of Otero County's District 2 would be the jury. The extra trip to New York City exceeds the scope of the authorized travel, court records state. The disqualification of Berger, for instance, was later widely regarded as overreach. Griffin arrived in a cowboy hat, and the trial featured video footage of him on the Capitol grounds. Griffin is also under investigation by the New Mexico Attorney General's Office for potential criminal charges relating to the September 2019 travel voucher issue. 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 . After the fall of Roe, the pro-life movement is facing a battle of unprecedented complexity and staggering scope. Couy rarely would make headlines before his arrest. The motion said Couy Griffin has publicly expressed views and opinions which have incited threats of violence to his ex-wife and son. FILE - In this March 12, 2019, file photo, Otero County Commissioner and Cowboys for Trump founder Coy Griffin denounces gun control and pro-abortion rights bills in the New Mexico State Legislature at a protest outside the Statehouse in Santa Fe, N.M. I will not be intimidated, I will not be threatened, and I sure as Hell wont back down!! Their son was born in 2014. And Im damn sure no quitter!!". 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. In closing arguments Wednesday, prosecutors argued that Griffin used Cowboys for Trump to explicitly link political advocacy to appeals for online donations, while flouting registration and financial disclosure requirements for political committees that are designed to ensure transparency and fairness in elections. He was also pastor at New Heart Church in . Griffin never complied with the agreement. As a strategic matter, Im skeptical that disqualification under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment is the best way or even a productive way to fight back against anti-democratic forces across the country, Hemel said. 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.