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. As per edailybuzz, Couy Griffin is married to his wife, Kourtnie A Gates. 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. Griffin rejected prosecutors offer to plead to a lesser charge and serve probation. 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. He shouldn't be punished for showing his pride in his country, Miller said. A copy of the check was included in the warrant packet. 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. 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.). 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. 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. (Berger was later seated after his espionage conviction was overturned.). The extent of his criminal activity is the subject of this investigation.. and signed a child-support check to his ex-wife from his . 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. Here you have Couy Griffin as Cowboys For Trump not only hiding assets from his ex-wife and son. Griffin's defense lawyers plan to argue that, because Pence was rushed away amid the mayhem of January 6, the Capitol grounds were no longer a restricted, Secret Service-protected area by the time he was there. 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 incursion on Jan. 6, 2021. Dont miss reporting and analysis from the Hill and the White House. You want to say that was a mob? Any further details regarding Kourtnie have not been disclosed yet. I guess one needs to ask whats in this for the Chairman of Otero County GOP? 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. 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.". 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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. Griffin arrived in a cowboy hat, and the trial featured video footage of him on the Capitol grounds. A Donald Trump supporter, Griffin founded Cowboys for Trump and listed his sister Kay Griffin as its organizer. . 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. Instead, he waived trial by jury and bet his freedom on a bench trial before McFadden, who Trump appointed to the federal bench in 2017. Nothing is more foul and disgusting than hero worship. Jurors deliberated for more than nine hours before delivering the verdict. Also, Griffin reportedly hasa sonfrom his former relationship with Kourtnie. 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. I did nothing violent on that day, I broke nothing, I didnt fight with anybody, Griffin has told the court in a pretrial hearing. 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.) Griffin never complied with the agreement. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Just dont say anything bad about a scammer politician for the Republican Party of Otero County, otherwise Amy Smith Barela might try to intimidate you too. 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. Prosecutors plan to call a Secret Service inspector and Capitol police inspector later on Monday. Perhaps leadership is knowingly/financially or literally in bed with the candidate? For the first time since the War of 1812, the U.S. Capitol was breached. 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. A copy of the check was included in the warrant packet. (Griffin did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 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. There is an uncomfortable irony when, in the aftermath of that attack, we purport to defend democracy by using the judicial process to deprive voters of their choice of leader. He was also pastor at New Heart Church in . 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. It seems like Couy prefers to keep details about his family a secret. But the judge greenlighted a request from Griffin's defense lawyers to question a Secret Service agent about a lingering question around the events of January 6: the location of then-Vice President Mike Pence. However, New Mexico State Auditor Brian Colon said the funds, donated to Griffin by G.B. It is their calling by God that established this ministry. Ruling stems from the case of Christopher Rodriguez, who was sentenced as an adult to, Sheriff Shane Ferrari said the dog came out of the vehicle and charged at him, A Luna County man was arrested Monday for allegedly beating his older brother to death. 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. We had unknown individuals who were breaking through a security barrier, a site where we had protectees. Why on earth would someone put their reputation on the line for a person who is being exposed as a fraud and financial scammer? 2023 www.alamogordonews.com. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) Cowboys for Trump cofounder 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. 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. 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. 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. Mr. The State Auditor was notified of the voucher and launched an investigation. They said Griffin was a politician in his own right who clearly advocated for Trump while the president was a candidate for reelection, and that Griffin also promoted political positions on border enforcement, gun rights, abortion and more. 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 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. 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. 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. Olivers office initially prevailed in a June 2020 arbitration decision that ordered Cowboys for Trump to register as a political committee, file expenditure and contribution reports and pay a fine of $7,800. "On the decision, I am obviously very pleased," Sanchez said. Cowboys for Trump cofounder Couy Griffin confronted a trial by jury Tuesday on charges that he failed to register a political organization without filing related public financial disclosures. "I would rather these allegation brought forward be heard from a group of peers rather than a (former Gov. South Carolina lawyer Alex Murdaugh has been found guilty on all four counts in connection with the 2021 murders of his wife and son. The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards. Griffin has five calendar days to file an appeal to the New Mexico Supreme Court. 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. Advocates for that approach now have a victory under their belts, though. Lets not forget that free food from ranchers too. 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 . The decision interrupts a string of adverse legal decisions for Griffin, who remains barred from elected office under a judges decision upheld by the New Mexico Supreme Court in February. But what officials disclosed of Pences whereabouts may not be what the defendant hoped. 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. Instead, Griffin has participated in manipulation in a custody dispute by asking his son to pray that his mother do the right thing, Rosner wrote. Get the latest news delivered right to your email. 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. Griffin also met with then-President Donald Trump on Sept. 12, 2019. But legal experts say the ruling in New Mexico is significant nonetheless especially if it holds up. 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. And while circumstances might make that difficult to replicate, its nonetheless a historic marker of what transpired 20 months ago. 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. Prosecutors have said that Pence remained at the Capitol complex during the relevant period. 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. 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. The dismissed charge against Griffin carried a potential punishment of up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine. Who is Couy Griffin? We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Well, read his exclusive personal life details and the reason behind his arrest in the below facts!if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'millionsofcelebs_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_2',124,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-millionsofcelebs_com-medrectangle-3-0');if(typeof ez_ad_units != 'undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[320,50],'millionsofcelebs_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_3',124,'0','1'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-millionsofcelebs_com-medrectangle-3-0_1'); .medrectangle-3-multi-124{border:none !important;display:block !important;float:none !important;line-height:0px;margin-bottom:7px !important;margin-left:auto !important;margin-right:auto !important;margin-top:7px !important;max-width:100% !important;min-height:50px;padding:0;text-align:center !important;}. What the hell are the donations for exactly? With all those donations Couy takes in you would think he would want to pay for the items his sheep give him. Series of issues initiates Couy Griffin recall effort. On the witness stand, Struck said he used to post videos on his Twitter account "before it was shut down.". 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. Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin, the founder of Cowboys for Trump, takes in the view from his ranch in Tularosa, N.M., on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. 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. 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. The disqualification of Berger, for instance, was later widely regarded as overreach. Conlee set up the original Cowboys for Trump GoFundMe page, court records show. 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. Griffin returned the funds to Otero County, as officials questioned the legality of the voucher and payment. Published: Monday, February 15th, 2021 at 10:05PMUpdated: Monday, February 15th, 2021 at 10:13PM. 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. 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. Griffins actions have been selfish and place the minor child at risk, in addition to his ex-wifes unborn child, Rosner said. The motion said Couy Griffin "has publicly expressed views and opinions which have incited threats of violence" to his ex-wife and son. 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. Derrick Evans, was sentenced to three months in jail this summer for committing civil disorder on Jan. 6. California Gov. You want to say that was violence? "Pretty soon, it was like a huge, amazing Trump rally," Griffin said. 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 Griffin Wife, Children Griffin is currently single, he was previously married to his girlfriend Kourtnie A Gates, but they were divorced in 2019. Also worth weighing here, Hemel noted, is whether disqualification is an appropriate remedy. 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. No sir. Otero County GOP Chairman Amy Smith Barela (ahhhh. See you never really know who is nice and who is not. They have a Son Together was born in 2014. Magliocca said the issue could arise in a number of ways moving forward and is ripe for the Supreme Court to litigate before Trump might run for and potentially win the presidency in 2024. 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. It is unclear when McFadden will hand down his verdict. And a judge acquitted him of disorderly conduct. 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. Besides being Mexico County Commissioner, he is also the founder of the group namedCowboys for Trump. 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. 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.. 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. The ruling comes after lawyers for Griffin's ex-wife, Kourtnie, filed an emergency motion in May to modify their custody and visitation agreement. 10h. 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. But only certain parts of the Constitution and only some of the time. 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. Otero County Commissioner and Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin is being investigated by the New Mexico Attorney General's Office on grounds he violated the Campaign Reporting Act and the. Griffin also said the reelection campaign for Trump would distance itself from Cowboys for Trump after Griffin posted the video. 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. McFadden, a former Virginia police officer and Justice Department criminal division official under the George W. Bush and Trump administrations, earlier admonished prosecutors for a sloppy mistake last year in which they claimed for months in court filings that vice president-elect Kamala D. Harris was also present on Capitol grounds during the attack. 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. Griffins case differs from the others in one crucial way: He was actually part of the crowd that stormed the Capitol and was later convicted of his role. Couy gotarrestedon 17 January 2021 incharge of his connection in the riots at the U.S. Capitol. 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. "Recall is intended to be difficult and it is intended to be a very serious matter,"Ivey-Soto said. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. Their son was born in 2014. 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. The C4T GoFundMe page states that all monies given will be a direct donation to founder Couy Griffin and will be used as Couy sees fit to move the organization forward, according to records. U.S. Donald Trump Qanon Las vegas Capitol Riots. Whether this will ultimately stand up if appealed remains a major question and one that could have far-ranging implications. 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. Plenty of history very bad history was made on Jan. 6, 2021. Bill) Richardson appointed judge in Manuel Arrieta," Griffin said in an email April 7. Mr. Cowboys for Trump . Still waiting on jury deliberations. 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. One person is dead and another has been hospitalized after a shooting on Central Avenue near Moon Street, police said Thursday morning. 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. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. So, we are still unknown about his actual net worth and earnings he receives from his job. Most of these cases fizzled quickly, and none have succeeded. Indeed, Griffin has been that talk of the town since the news of his arrest swirled in the media. 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. Cowboys for Trump also had a GoFundMe account set up in January 2020 to raise money for legal expenses. 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. "There's nothing illegal about that You feel clearheaded now?" Do any of her businesses contract with the county? It doesnt bother local leadership that Couy has made this EXACT same trip time and time again, through donations for whatever cause will pay. 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. You also agree to our, The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York City. I use very sharp words, dripping with sarcasm but in person, I would do anything for anyone regardless of their politics. and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). 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?. 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. 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.
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