Copyright 2023 The Western Journal. 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 Pence's whereabouts . 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. 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 returned the funds to Otero County, as officials questioned the legality of the voucher and payment. And a judge acquitted him of disorderly conduct. 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. Probable cause found in Couy Griffin recall case - Alamogordo Daily News Derrick Evans, was sentenced to three months in jail this summer for committing civil disorder on Jan. 6. 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. Kourtnie served in the US military and is a war Veteran. They want to talk about playing a Black national anthem before football games? 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.. Get the latest news delivered right to your email. The State Auditor was notified of the voucher and launched an investigation. Photo credit: @AP on Twitter. Couy Griffin Net Worth Couy Griffin has an estimated Net Worth of $1Million in 2022. Indeed, in allowing Greene to remain in office, a judge had emphasized there was no evidence to show that Rep. Greene participated in the Invasion itself or communicated with or issued directives to persons who engaged in the Invasion. Griffin was much easier to tie directly to the insurrection, and he has now been found to have directly engaged in it. FILE - Otero County, New Mexico Commissioner Couy Griffin speaks to reporters as he arrives at federal court in Washington, June 17, 2022. Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on Twitter at @nicmaxreporter. 6.). With all those donations Couy takes in you would think he would want to pay for the items his sheep give him. "I would rather these allegation brought forward be heard from a group of peers rather than a (former Gov. Judge bars Cowboys for Trump boss from visits with son Bulls waive Goran Dragic, opening door for possible Heat reunion 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. 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 . Trump cowboy plots political future after Capitol breach - NBC News 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.". Griffin's attorney also accused state campaign finance regulators of bias and singling out Cowboys for Trump for enforcement. 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. Griffin rejected prosecutors offer to plead to a lesser charge and serve probation. All I did was stand on the steps of the Capitol and pray with people, thats it.. No sir. 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. Harrowing video has emerged of a racially charged incident that rocked an elementary school in Springfield, Ohio. 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. At the outset of the bench trial, McFadden confirmed that Griffin wanted his verdict decided by a judge rather than a jury. See you never really know who is nice and who is not. 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. You also agree to our, The Associated Press is an independent, not-for-profit news cooperative headquartered in New York City. Prosecutors called Matthew Struck, who traveled with Griffin to Washington, DC, and recorded videos of him on January 6. 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. 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. But this is also a man who beat a "Mom and Pop business" that has 5 kids out of thousands of dollars. Couy Griffin Family, Net Worth, Parents, Wife, Biography 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. (Griffin did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Prosecutors have said that Pence remained at the Capitol complex during the relevant period. Griffin has claimed his prosecution is politically motivated, arguing that unlike the vast majority of more than 750 people charged, he is not accused of assaulting police, damaging property or even entering the Capitol. 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. When local Republican Party Leadership will openly attack average (ie not running for office) citizens to silence their criticism of their elected official we have a HUGE problem inside that party. Gavin Newsom has declared a state of emergency in more than a dozen counties as the typically warm state digs out from rare snowstorms. He had a son with her, who currently lives with her. It doesnt bother local leadership that Couy has made this EXACT same trip time and time again, through donations for whatever cause will pay. 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. "We are disappointed that Commissioner Griffin was not able to be here for the entire process. All rights reserved. But when it was operational, it offered options to donate to the organization by direct donation or by purchasing merchandise. Arrieta was assigned to the recall case after all of the 12th Judicial District judges recused themselves. 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. What the hell are the donations for exactly? Sign up for our free Daily Headlines newsletter Your . Griffin was present at the hearing for for about 45 minutesbefore he excused himself and returned to the Otero County Commission meeting. You want to say that was a mob? When asked whether he and Griffin had decided it would be "inappropriate" to enter the Capitol building, Struck replied, "I don't think we discussed that.". I use very sharp words, dripping with sarcasm but in person, I would do anything for anyone regardless of their politics. 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. Couy's ex-wife, Kourtnie, is a 34 years old Iraqi war veteran who was born in the year 1986. "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. Couy Griffin poses with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House on September 12, 2019. 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. 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. New Mexico and ABQ News, Sports, Business and more, By Nicole Maxwell / Alamogordo Daily News I dont know but I will find out. Dozens of Democrat elected officials decided to pass on president Joe Biden's speech in Maryland, opting instead to attend a tribute concert. But this is also a man who beat a Mom and Pop business that has 5 kids out of thousands of dollars. But, he hasnt revealed the identity of his son. "He had as much right to due process as we do and the judge very much made it clear and afforded him that right. 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. Some have sought to wield that seldom-invoked provision against members of Congress, without success, and even floated using it against Trump. Couy Griffin biography: 13 things about Cowboys for Trump founder from "Pretty soon, it was like a huge, amazing Trump rally," Griffin said. 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 . 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. 'Cowboys for Trump' Co-Founder Declared Not Guilty in Court, Says He's 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. We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. 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 . FILE - Otero County, New Mexico Commissioner Couy Griffin speaks to reporters as he arrives at federal court in Washington, June 17, 2022. They have a Son Together was born in 2014. The Associated Press was the first private sector organization in the U.S. to operate on a national scale. Couy Griffin trial set for March - KOB.com He was also pastor at New Heart Church in . 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. 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. The hearing was held in the old Otero County Commission Chambers in the Otero County Courthouse across the street from the Otero County Administration Building. That travel voucher was approved and a check was cut to Griffin in the amount of$3,237.48. 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?. You may opt out at anytime. Trump cowboy seeks 2nd act in politics after U.S. Capitol breach Last year, he became the first elected official to be banished from elected office in connection with the Capitol incursion. as well as other partner offers and accept our. He acknowledged that Griffin was not criminally convicted of insurrection and there is no evidence that Griffin engaged in violence himself. 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. The extra trip to New York City exceeds the scope of the authorized travel, court records state. You havent shown he [Pence] ever left the restricted area, the judge told Griffins defense attorney, Nicholas D. Smith. Weitere Informationen ber die Verwendung Ihrer personenbezogenen Daten finden Sie in unserer Datenschutzerklrung und unserer Cookie-Richtlinie. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Griffins actions have been selfish and place the minor child at risk, in addition to his ex-wifes unborn child, Rosner said. The disclosure verifies reporting by ABC journalist and author Jonathan Karl and came in testimony by the liaison officer for Pences Secret Service security detail against the second defendant to face trial in the Capitol attack. Wednesday's emergency proclamation in the counties of Amador, Kern, Los Angeles, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Nevada, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, Sierra, Sonoma and Tulare will . 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. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider 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 filing related public financial disclosures. Note: This photo has been removed from the White House Flickr page. 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 motion said Couy Griffin "has publicly expressed views and opinions which have incited threats of violence" to his ex-wife and son. They include GOP gubernatorial nominees Doug Mastriano in Pennsylvania and Dan Cox in Maryland, who both organized buses for the Stop the Steal rally. Couy Griffin Wife- Is He Married? 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. 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. Professionally, Kourtnie is an Iraqi war veteran. 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. 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. The judge said Griffin also repeatedly has defied health orders to put a mask on his son at public events and has openly said he will continue to do so. A jury will consider this week whether the support group . On the witness stand, Struck said he used to post videos on his Twitter account "before it was shut down.". Still, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas reportedly had issued the statement demanding Griffins resignation from his current post as Mexico County Commissioner. 'Cowboys for Trump' Founder to Stand Trial in Capitol Riot Case He is a pastor, a Republican and the son of a former commissioner in Catron County, New Mexico. 86. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. So, we are still unknown about his actual net worth and earnings he receives from his job. We had unknown individuals who were breaking through a security barrier, a site where we had protectees. The motion said Couy Griffin has publicly expressed views and opinions which have incited threats of violence to his ex-wife and son.
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