He is among only three riot defendants who have asked for a bench trial, which means a judge will decide his case without a . "I'm really hoping that the judge will dismiss the charges," Griffin told the Albuquerque Journal in June. "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. A judge said Couy Griffin's stated remorse for January 6 conflicted with incendiary public comments. SCOTUS Now Just Another Congressional Committee, Trump Ramps up Attacks on DeSantis: 'Dropping Like a Rock', Russian Strikes on Pavlohrad Aim to Hamper Ukraine's Counteroffensive, Greg Abbott Criticized for Response to Texas Shooting: 'A New Low', Democrat Sold First Republic Stock, Bought JP Morgan Before Collapse, Conservative Influencers Struggle With Countering Biden's Messaging. They include GOP gubernatorial nominees Doug Mastriano in Pennsylvania and Dan Cox in Maryland, who both organized buses for the Stop the Steal rally. The 2024 presidential race begins: Will it be a repeat of 2020? 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. 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. as well as other partner offers and accept our. Their first witness was Matthew Struck, who joined Griffin at the Capitol and served as his videographer. Couy Griffin serves as District 2 Otero County Commissioner and Otero County Commission Vice Chairman in New Mexico, according to the Alamogordo Daily News. with classified docs, Pence testifies before election probe grand jury hours after court rejected Trump effort to block, New IRS chief promises several years before most Americans face higher audit rates, U.S. to protect Philippines navy, coast guard ships from China under defense pact, Another ISIS leader killed, this time by Turkish agents, Russian commanders disciplining their troops harshly in Ukraine, Ben Cardin, longtime Democratic senator in Maryland, announces retirement, Two children struck, killed by D.C.-bound Amtrak train near Philadelphia, Six D.C. fire employees on leave after brawl with man accused of punching firefighter, Ukraine wars next phase comes into focus, Biden reaffirms ironclad alliance with Philippines in wake of Chinese aggression, Hollywood writers to go on strike, slam gig economy, Comcast pulls NFL Network after carriage agreement expires, Biden invites McCarthy to White House for debt talks as new default deadline looms June 1, Redefining love: Tolerance merely shows apathy, Black Protestant church still vital despite attendance drop, Pope voices willingness to return Indigenous loot, artifacts, Mental health worsened in online screenings last year: Report, White House says Biden will end vaccine rules on federal employees, international air travelers, General Mills issues flour recall after salmonella discovery, Canadian folk singer Gordon Lightfoot dies at 84, Serena Williams, Karlie Kloss reveal pregnancies at Met Gala, White House Plumbers exploits absurdities of Watergate, Airlines, feds prep for flight interruptions as summer bookings soar, Life-sized sculpture of Oslos beloved wild walrus euthanized last year unveiled in Norway, California man arrested in Philadelphia for trying to fly to Ireland with 72 pounds of weed in check, Russian official: Ukrainian drones strike Crimea oil depot, OpenAI: ChatGPT back in Italy after meeting watchdog demands, NYC transit agency ends Twitter alerts, says its unreliable, Texas Legislature passes $200 annual fee for electric vehicle drivers, First Republic Bank seized, sold to JPMorgan Chase. Two days later, in Bowling Green, Ky., Mr. Griffin told a crowd that a war was underway with the elitist, gross, wicked, vile people, adding, We got to get our country back., In Atlanta, on Jan. 4, the ruling said, Mr. Griffin anticipated that there could be violence when crowds of people descended on Washington for Mr. Trumps speech. He is one of the few riot defendants who isnt accused of entering the Capitol or engaging in any violent or destructive behavior. We've received your submission. More than 770 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot. , Southern Poverty Law Center 'hate' list suffers legal setback, Secret Service blocks Muslim mayor from White House Eid-al-Fitr celebration, Ryan Webb, Delaware County, Indiana, councilman, mocks left by coming out as lesbian woman of color, Seven bodies found in Henryetta, Oklahoma, during search for two missing teens, U.S. government destroying the dollars value through inflation, Bidens idea of freedom should frighten every liberty-loving American. Miller, a public defender, said Griffin's 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. It would be helpful if they would take this opportunity to rule really for the first time what Section 3 means.. Mr. Griffins attempts to challenge Mr. Trumps defeat in the 2020 election including issuing calls for violence on behalf of the former president preceded the events of Jan. 6, according to the ruling by the judge in New Mexico. "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. He claims he has been selectively prosecuted for his political views. He was arrested on January 17 and charged with knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds without lawful authority. Griffin, a 48-year-old former rodeo rider and former pastor, helped founda political committee called Cowboys for Trump. After attendingthen-President Donald Trumps Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6,Griffin and Struck walked over barriers and up a staircase to enter a stage that was under construction on the Capitols Lower West Terrace forBidens inauguration, according to prosecutors. Sicknick died the day after the riots from a stroke. Both the prosecutors and the probation and parole department recommended he serve 90 days. For the first time since the War of 1812, the U.S. Capitol was breached. McFadden acquitted Griffin of disorderly conduct but convicted him of the misdemeanor charge of entering a restricted building or grounds. This just went from being theoretical to being something that is legally recognized and legally possible, said Noah Bookbinder, director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a nonpartisan watchdog organization that filed suit against Mr. Griffin on behalf of a group of New Mexico residents. A key question in Griffins case is whether he entered a restricted area while Pence was still present on Capitol grounds, a prerequisite for the U.S. Secret Service to invoke access restrictions. I dont think justice was served, Griffin said of his case in a radio interview earlier this month. Even after his criminal conviction, Mr. Griffin, a bombastic man who briefly considered riding a horse to his sentencing at the courthouse in Washington, continued to publicly disparage the case and insult the judge who heard it. He had vowed to arrive at the courthouse on horseback. People try to storm the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. Sign up for notifications from Insider! In March, Judge Trevor N. McFadden, presiding at a bench trial in Federal District Court in Washington, found Mr. Griffin guilty of one misdemeanor count of illegally entering a restricted area at the Capitol and acquitted him of another that accused him of disorderly conduct. Heres what we know about what Trump did on Jan. 6. The answer to that was yes, as the clip then segued into an interview with Babbitt's brother, Roger Witthoeft who described how close the siblings had been and how he was dealing with her loss. Griffin founded an organization called "Cowboys for Trump.". Evidence at his trial showed that Griffin and his videographer climbed over various barricades and barriers, then clambered onto the inauguration stage in front of the Capitol and spent over an hour speaking through a bullhorn to the surging mob. Judge Unseats Official Who Trespassed at Capitol on Jan. 6, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/06/us/politics/jan-6-griffin-insurrection.html. He was arrested and charged upon his return to Washington. But the judge had harsh words for Griffin, who maintained during his sentencing hearing Friday that he was unaware that the grounds outside the Capitol were restricted on January 6. Success in the latter scenario remains unlikely, especially in the absence of a criminal conviction. COVID report finds suicide calls, overdose deaths and mental illness soared in D.C. He shouldn't be punished for showing his pride in his country, Miller said. A federal judge on Tuesday convicted Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin of trespassing in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, handing the Justice Department its second . Griffin said he and fellow commissioners don't see the process as trustworthy. His lawyer, David Smith, requested two months probation. Handing down the sentence, McFadden called the January 6 attack on the Capitol a "national embarrassment" and a "dark day" for Washington, DC, and the country. Cooper then threw to a clip of an interview the correspondent had with Couy Griffin, who said he doubted whether Ashli Babbitt and U.S. Capitol police officer, Brian Sicknick had even died as a result of the riots. The Associated Press reported the confidential plea agre SANTA FE, N.M. -- 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. He posted a video of himself to the Cowboys for Trump Facebook page on the following day, bragging that he had "climbed up on the top of the Capitol building" and had a "front row seat" to the riot. A New Mexico judge has ordered Otero County commissioner and "Cowboys for Trump" founder Couy Griffin to leave public office immediately for his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. More: Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin questions Capitol . I lived a life devoted to the Lord, Griffin said. Griffins disqualification from office is not only retroactive to Jan. 6, 2021; he is also barred for life from holding any civil or military office in the future. Instead of taking his case to a jury, Griffin elected a bench trial with McFadden, an appointee of former president Donald Trump. The sentencing effectively ruled out any further prison time for Griffin barring a violation of his probation in connection with his involvement in the January 6 attack. 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.) The strikes left 34 people injured, including three children, and caused widespread damage. 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. At a stop in The Woodlands, Texas, on Jan. 1, 2021, the ruling said, Mr. Griffin urged a crowd to view the attempts to overturn the election as a last-ditch fight, comparing it to the famous standoff at the Alamo. Trump's latest attack addresses DeSantis' overseas trips to the U.K., Israel, Florida's Covid-19 record, and polling support for the 2024 Presidential race. Thats hugely significant. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider Until Tuesday, none had succeeded. 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. In some ways, Mr. Griffins case was a cleaner win for advocates seeking to punish officials connected to the riot because he was part of the mob that stormed the Capitol, not a lawmaker sitting inside. All I wanted to do was speak on behalf of an America First agenda, which should all be protected under the First Amendment, he said. Prosecutors called Matthew Struck, who traveled with Griffin to Washington, DC, and recorded videos of him on January 6. Terms of Use / Privacy Policy / Manage Newsletters, Trump cowboy found not guilty of campaign finance charge, New Mexico bars commissioner from office for insurrection, Official guilty of illegally entering Capitol grounds Jan. 6, Secret Service says Pence taken to underground loading dock during U.S. Capitol riot, Cowboys for Trump founder appeals recall bid to high court, Effort advances to recall Cowboys for Trump founder, Cowboys for Trump leader wont resign his Otero County post, Cowboys for Trump leader released from jail pending trial, Cowboys for Trump leader appeals for pre-trial release, Judge denies release of jailed Cowboys for Trump leader, Cowboys for Trump leader refuses virus test in jail, Cowboys for Trump leader seeks release from Washington jail, Cowboys for Trump leaders seeks cover for financial backers, Jailed Cowboys for Trump leader urged to quit county office, Cowboys for Trump leader arrested over US Capitol riot, Trump accuses overly political National Archives of letting him leave W.H. 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. as conspiracy theories continue to swirl about the events of January 6, SCOTUS Now Just Another Congressional Committee, Trump Ramps up Attacks on DeSantis: 'Dropping Like a Rock', Russian Strikes on Pavlohrad Aim to Hamper Ukraine's Counteroffensive, Greg Abbott Criticized for Response to Texas Shooting: 'A New Low', Democrat Sold First Republic Stock, Bought JP Morgan Before Collapse, Conservative Influencers Struggle With Countering Biden's Messaging. The network's correspondent said he learned from pursuing the story that many of those who had stormed the Capitol still believed the line pushed by former President Donald Trump and his allies that the election had been stolen. Hes going to run, and weve got to know whether hes allowed to run or not, Magliocca said. Griffin has made a series of controversial statements calling for violence against his political opponents. 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. 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. Why Gov. An online fundraiser for Griffin has also raised nearly $50,000. According to a court document, Griffin tweeted after the trial that the media has tried to make me look like the biggest loser the last couple days. Advocates for that approach now have a victory under their belts, though. WASHINGTON An elected official from New Mexico went to trial with a judge not a jury set to decide if he is guilty of charges that he illegally entered the U.S. Capitol grounds on the daya pro-Trump mobdisrupted the certification of Joe Bidens presidential election victory. It looks like theyve been calm and theyre listening to Couy., In a court filing, prosecutors called Griffin an inflammatory provocateur and fabulist who engages in racist invective and propounds baseless conspiracy theories, including that Communist China stole the 2020 Presidential Election.. But Griffin has resisted pressure to register the group as a political committee, including filing an unsuccessful petition to the 10th District Court of Appeals. It was a busy week to be covering government in Otero County, as the years-long saga surrounding County Commissioner Couy . After being jailed in connection with the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., Otero County Commission Vice Chairman Couy Griffin was back in attendance at the Feb. 11 Otero . They started chanting, Pray for Trump, Struck replied. Abbott invoked the immigration status of shooting victims, How Trump made it cool for Republicans to hate their own party, JPMorgans acquisition of First Republic revives too-big-to-fail talk, removed Otero County commissioner Couy Griffin, to disqualify Socialist Rep. Victor Berger in 1919, sought to disqualify several members of Congress. Griffin is thinking about running for Catron County sheriff. McFadden dismissed that claim as "preposterous.". 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. Brent Stirton/Getty. (Griffin did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A federal judge on Tuesday found Couy Griffin, a founder of Cowboys for Trump and the second January 6 defendant to go on trial as part of the Justice Department's massive prosecution, guilty of . Griffin's lawyers say that unlike the other protesters, he did not enter the Capitol, but instead stood on the steps of the building urging on others with a bullhorn, Buzzfeed News reported. Couy Griffin had returned to DC and was taken into custody just blocks away from the Capitol after Capitol Police officers ran his license plate and noticed that he had an outstanding warrant. His advisory sentencing guideline range for the misdemeanor conviction was zero to six months. Approximately 100 others have trial dates. In a segment on Anderson Cooper 360, Drew Griffin was recounting his interview with the founder of Cowboys for Trump, Cuoy Griffin, who is also a New Mexico county commissioner. Derrick Evans, was sentenced to three months in jail this summer for committing civil disorder on Jan. 6. Trumps attack on democracy after the November 2020 election started out as an attempt to use the judicial process to deprive voters of their choice of leader. 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 dismissed charge against Griffin carried a potential punishment of up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine. Struck has an immunity deal with prosecutors for his testimony. "I'm serious," he continued, "That's, that's how and I hate to be so crazy conspiracy-minded. The judge heard testimony Monday from three government witnesses. Smith said prosecutors apparently believe Griffin engaged in disorderly conduct by peacefully leading a prayer on the Capitol steps. A judge in New Mexico declared Tuesday that the Jan. 6 Capitol riot was an "insurrection" as he ruled that Otero County Commissioner and "Cowboys for Trump" founder Couy Griffin must be . Jurors deliberated for more than nine hours before delivering the verdict. Updated: 6:15 PM EDT June 17, 2022. On Monday, federal prosecutors displayed video footage in McFadden's courtroom showing Griffin climbing a makeshift ramp as he approached the Capitol. After already serving 20 days in jail, Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin avoided additional prison time Friday as he was sentenced for his participation in the pro-Trump mob that attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Cuoy Griffin, a 1/6 suspect, says he doubts two of the fatalities caused by the insurrection. A judge said Couy Griffin's stated remorse for January 6 conflicted with incendiary public comments. The ruling declared the Jan. 6 assault an insurrection and ordered Mr. Griffin removed from office. The riot: On Jan. 6, 2021, a pro-Trump mob stormed the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to stop the certification of the 2020 election results. Griffin invoked free speech protections in declining to register and disclose donors to Cowboys for Trump, while expressing concern that financial contributors might be harassed. Since he didn't enter the Capitol, Griffin was at the "minimal end of criminality," the judge said. Sign up for notifications from Insider! He acknowledged that Griffin was not criminally convicted of insurrection and there is no evidence that Griffin engaged in violence himself. the judge asked. He took to Twitter, court papers said, and complained that Judge McFadden had issued a PRE written guilty verdict, decrying it as pathetic and adding, I wonder who wrote it?. Federal prosecutors had pointed out that the secretary of state in New Mexico has asked for a criminal investigation into Griffins actions in refusing to certify the primary election there. And a judge acquitted him of disorderly conduct. By clicking Sign up, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider The confidential agreement was offered to Griffin during discussions at a Monday court hearing in Washington, D.C., according to the Associated Press. A New Mexico judge on Tuesday removed Otero County commissioner Couy Griffin by invoking the 14th Amendments prohibition on those who engaged in insurrection from serving in office. Inside the siege: During the rampage, rioters came perilously close to penetrating the inner sanctums of the building while lawmakers were still there, including former vice president Mike Pence. During the weeks that Griffin spent in jail following his arrest, he was placed in isolation due to his refusal to take a required COVID-19 test. A Trump appointee, McFadden handed down the verdict because Griffin elected for a so-called bench trial, in which a judge rather than a jury reviews evidence and determines guilt or innocence. Nicholas Smith, a lawyer who represented him during his criminal trial, declined to comment.

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