1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. 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. | We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. 0:36. Couy Griffin recall, Otero County, New Mexico (2021) 7 Apr. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. He turned down an offer to plead to a lesser charge and probation, waived a trial by jury and took his chances with McFadden. Gemunu Amarasinghe / AP file "I have huge concerns with the voting machines," said Commissioner. Griffin is the second person to be tried of over 700 charged in connection with the riot that day. He has supported a $50,000 taxpayer-funded audit of the 2020 election results in the small conservative county, whose 24,000 votes Trump carried by 25 percentage points. La Junta, CO 81050 (719) 383-3000. He says the ruling sends a message to other public officials across the country who have been undermining the results of the 2020 election, as well as other democratic norms. Lujan Grisham spokeswoman Nora Sackett said the resolution was preposterous. Couy Griffin, one of three commissioners in Otero county in southern New Mexico, was immediately removed from his position and cannot hold elected office again, Francis Mathew, a district. But in charging documents and plea talks, prosecutors have also deployed stiffer misdemeanor charges against those accused of more egregious or disruptive conduct than passing quietly through restricted areas, or, in a small number of cases like Griffins, did not enter the Capitol. Otero County Directory | Otero County Griffin, who attended proceedings in a black cowboy hat, left the courthouse in D.C. echoing former president Donald Trumps baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen. Recall supporters did not collect enough signatures by the deadline on September 28, 2021. Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin skirted extra prison time for Coronavirus: Otero County approves out-of-state travel resolution Cowboys for Trump founder returns to Otero County Commission Phone: 575-491-7265. 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. The resolution on the table calls the COVID-19 public health orders unconstitutional on series of grounds including that itinfringes on New Mexicans' First Amendment right to free exercise of religion and to peaceably assemble. The quo warranto complaintasking for Griffin's removal from office was filed by Marco White on Santa Fe County, Mark Mitchell of Los Alamos County and Leslie Lakind of Santa Fe County. "I don't think it's fair to accuse me of insurrection," he says. In his ruling on the case, Mathew contended that Griffin was not eligible to hold office because of his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots. ", Mares did not elaborate on what "moral turpitude" entails. A key question in Griffins case was whether he entered a restricted area while Vice President Mike Pence was still present on Capitol grounds, a prerequisite for the US Secret Service to invoke access restrictions. "This is very evident of the tyranny that is raising its head up in our country.". Maureen Cohen Harrington via Storyful, Storyful, U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment's Disqualification Clause, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Couy Griffin (@CowboyCouy) / Twitter New Mexico judge removes county commissioner from office for DEIJ Policy | Ethics Policy | Privacy Policy. 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. I only know him by his first name, which his first name is Hiramand hes not a licensed attorney, hes not a BAR-certified attorney, hes a friend of mine who knows the law.. Address 1101 New York Avenue Alamogordo, NM 88310 Griffin told NPR he will appeal this latest ruling. "But now we had this thing happen where people in the U.S. engaged in an armed insurrection to stop the legally mandated counting of votes and the peaceful transfer of power. 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. Follow Source New Mexico on Facebook and Twitter. In Tuesdays decision, Judge Mathew ruled that Griffin had broken his oath to support the Constitution when he participated in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack in Washington, D.C., violating Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.