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If you dont believe me, ask all those who thought Dennis Rader was such a nice guy. When two thugs tried to attack an elderly man, he pulled out his own weapon and fired back, scaring them away. 2023 www.alamogordonews.com. Griffin ignores the fact that his position as an elected official puts him in a different and nonprotected category from other rioters, McFadden said. 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. 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. So it becomes a security issue when they [rioters] were surrounding a secure site and potentially taking away options for our routes out, said Hawa, who is a veteran of the force for 23 years and served as the Pence security details liaison for his trip to the Capitol. I will not be intimidated, I will not be threatened, and I sure as Hell wont back down!! Prosecutors called Matthew Struck, who traveled with Griffin to Washington, DC, and recorded videos of him on January 6. In each of these cases, Griffin has associated criminality with his organization, Cowboys for Trump. 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. The motion said Couy Griffin "has publicly. 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. Kourtnie served in the US military and is a war Veteran. FILE - Otero County, New Mexico Commissioner Couy Griffin speaks to reporters as he arrives at federal court in Washington, June 17, 2022. 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. I use very sharp words, dripping with sarcasm but in person, I would do anything for anyone regardless of their politics. He had a son with her, who currently lives with her. Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). If you find yourself getting wet over an elected official you are no longer using your mind or good senses. 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. Also worth weighing here, Hemel noted, is whether disqualification is an appropriate remedy. Mr. I dont think the government is entitled to some Secret Service exception or sensitive information exception from proving its case beyond a reasonable doubt, McFadden reiterated Monday before Hawa took the witness stand. 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. Couy Griffin Wife, Children Griffin is currently single, he was previously married to his girlfriend Kourtnie A Gates, but they were divorced in 2019. But this is also a man who beat a Mom and Pop business that has 5 kids out of thousands of dollars. Success in the latter scenario remains unlikely, especially in the absence of a criminal conviction. 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.". and signed a child-support check to his ex-wife from his . Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin, who is facing charges in connection with the U.S. Capitol riot, has turned on the former president in a conference speech for abandoning January 6. But at the end of the day, you mark my word, we will plant our flag on the desk of [House Speaker] Nancy Pelosi and [Senate Majority Leader] Chuck Schumer and Donald Trump if it boils down to it., The bizarre voter-fraud hunt in a New Mexico county Trump won by 25 points. A January 6-related trial began Monday in the case of "Cowboys for Trump" founder Couy Griffin. By Ewan Palmer On 10/25/21 at 11:33 AM EDT. . You want to say that was violence? That travel voucher was approved and a check was cut to Griffin in the amount of$3,237.48. Advocates for that approach now have a victory under their belts, though. Most of these cases fizzled quickly, and none have succeeded. With all those donations Couy takes in you would think he would want to pay for the items his sheep give him. 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. 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. "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. You also agree to our, The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York City. Griffin never complied with the agreement. "On the decision, I am obviously very pleased," Sanchez said. At the outset of the bench trial, McFadden confirmed that Griffin wanted his verdict decided by a judge rather than a jury. 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. 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.. The judge said the jury has till 10 tonight to come to a verdict or it will be called a mistrial. "I would rather these allegation brought forward be heard from a group of peers rather than a (former Gov. 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. Struck received immunity for his testimony. After all, these family businesses are struggling and Couy has his hand out for discounts or free. As a reminder, Chair of the Otero County GOP is an Official office within the party. Is the only good Democrat a dead Democrat? He is a pastor, a Republican and the son of a former commissioner in Catron County, New Mexico. Still waiting on jury deliberations. A copy of the check was included in the warrant packet. The judge said Griffins many defenses were not credible, and nor was his summary of his role on Jan. After the fall of Roe, the pro-life movement is facing a battle of unprecedented complexity and staggering scope. 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? While the decision of a state court isnt binding elsewhere, New York Universitys Daniel Hemel noted, it could embolden similar efforts to disqualify people from office with more direct ties to the insurrection up to and including Trump. Sanchez presented the allegations to Arrieta even after Griffin left the hearing. Some have sought to wield that seldom-invoked provision against members of Congress, without success, and even floated using it against Trump. The dismissed charge against Griffin carried a potential punishment of up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine. "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. "Several of the defendant's statements in the recording of the meeting constitute either direct admissions that he was illegally present in a restricted area or evidence of the defendant's state of mind during and after January 6, 2021," prosecutors said. They claimed Griffin was a politician in his own right who clearly advocated for Trump while the president was a candidate for re-election and that Griffin also promoted political positions on border enforcement, gun rights and more. The judge in the case, District Judge Francis J. Mathew, was unsparing in ruling that Griffin is disqualified from office. Griffin appeared at the hearing telephonically. 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. 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. Griffin arrived in a cowboy hat, and the trial featured video footage of him on the Capitol grounds. But only certain parts of the Constitution and only some of the time. Whether its riding for Israel or doing the Covid Canter. How about that? Griffin said in the video. 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. "The Committee to Recall Couy Griffin is very pleased that we have been found with probable cause, no less for all five of the allegations we presented.". 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. 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 Greenes case, she was forced to testify, but ultimately was not disqualified. 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 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. 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. 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. Jurors deliberated for more than nine hours before delivering the verdict. 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. 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.) 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. You can learn a lot about someone by the actions they take, not the words they use. 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. Jurors deliberated for more than nine hours before delivering the verdict. "We are disappointed that Commissioner Griffin was not able to be here for the entire process. Plenty of history very bad history was made on Jan. 6, 2021. See you never really know who is nice and who is not. For example, I can be a real asshole in writing. Top editors give you the stories you want delivered right to your inbox each weekday. 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. Note: This photo has been removed from the White House Flickr page. A Donald Trump supporter, Griffin founded Cowboys for Trump and listed his sister Kay Griffin as its organizer. Otero Commissioners to discuss calls for resignation of Couy Griffin on Thursday, banishment from the Mescalero Apache Reservation, approximately $3,500 from a restricted donor, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. . 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. 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. 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. Mr. Including allegations of drunk driving with 5 yr child. 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. Griffin has five calendar days to file an appeal to the New Mexico Supreme Court. Besides being Mexico County Commissioner, he is also the founder of the group namedCowboys for Trump. Hemel added: I wouldnt want Couy Griffin to be my county commissioner, or anyones county commissioner, but I think defenders of democracy need to think long and hard about whether judicial disqualification is the wisest approach.. 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. 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. and Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.). 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. 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. Prosecutors rested their case after Hawas testimony, but McFadden called her to return Tuesday morning. Andrew Caballero-Reynolds - AFP / Getty Images, "Cowboys for Trump" co-founder Couy Griffin speaks to reporters as he arrives at federal court in Washington on June 17, 2022. However, New Mexico State Auditor Brian Colon said the funds, donated to Griffin by G.B. Prosecutors have said that Pence remained at the Capitol complex during the relevant period. 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. Couy Griffin Wife- Is He Married? 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) chose not to take it. 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. They provide content and services to help engage audiences worldwide, working with companies of all types, from broadcasters to brands. Couy rarely would make headlines before his arrest. Seriously girl, its time to come off your knees and wipe your chin. But the jury wasn't persuaded. And a judge acquitted him of disorderly conduct. Griffin left Sept. 7, 2019, and stopped off in New York City on Sept. 11, 2019, where he rode horseback while at Times Square, court records state. 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. Couy Griffin is a political figure who served as County Commissioner of Otero County, New Mexico from 2019 until she was removed from her position on Tuesday, 6 September 2022. Griffin, who was convicted of a federal misdemeanor in March for his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol . He began his career in Wild West shows and worked in Paris from 2000 to 2005. 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. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in more than a dozen counties as the typically warm state digs out from rare snowstorms. Sie knnen Ihre Einstellungen jederzeit ndern, indem Sie auf unseren Websites und Apps auf den Link Datenschutz-Dashboard klicken. Klicken Sie auf Alle ablehnen, wenn Sie nicht mchten, dass wir und unsere Partner Cookies und personenbezogene Daten fr diese zustzlichen Zwecke verwenden. The office alleged Griffin misused campaign donations associated with Cowboys for Trump to pay child support for his son. Biden enlists potential rivals as advisers ahead of 2024, Their toddler took a nap in an Airbnb and fentanyl killed her, removed Otero County commissioner Couy Griffin, to disqualify Socialist Rep. Victor Berger in 1919, sought to disqualify several members of Congress. Couy Griffin Net Worth Couy Griffin has an estimated Net Worth of $1Million in 2022. 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. 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. Griffins actions have been selfish and place the minor child at risk, in addition to his ex-wifes unborn child, Rosner said. SANTA FE, N.M. -. 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. 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. Dozens of Democrat elected officials decided to pass on president Joe Biden's speech in Maryland, opting instead to attend a tribute concert. 10h. Congress used the 14th Amendment to disqualify Socialist Rep. Victor Berger in 1919, but not the insurrection provision specifically, and this was not a court decision. Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on Twitter at @nicmaxreporter. Photo credit: @AP on Twitter. News, Politics, Culture, and more in realtime. 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. In July 2020, a check from a bank account for Cowboys for Trump was sent to Griffins ex-wife for child support. 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. 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.