But McFadden acquitted the defendant of disorderly conduct, finding prosecutors had not proved he was acting knowingly to disrupt a government proceeding. 1101 New York Avenue Alamogordo, NM 88310-6935 Phone: 575-437-7427 Fax: 575-443-2904 Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Screen for heightened risk individual and entities globally to help uncover hidden risks in business relationships and human networks. District 2 Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin, 48 of Tularosa, was found guilty in federal court March 22 during a bench trial for trespassing on federal grounds during the during the . Griffin said he plans to appeal the ruling and that during the appeals process, he wont be representing himself. Of the many agenda items concerning the commissioner on the April 8 agenda, the item that generated the most contentious discussion was the ratification of a press release that Commissioners Gerald Matherly and Vickie Marquardt -- both Republicans -- sent to media calling for Griffin's resignation. 2023 www.alamogordonews.com. "The court's decision sent a message that powerful people can't rise up against the execution of the laws of the United States and the peaceful transfer of power without consequences," he says, "and the country needs to be protected against those who would undermine our democratic principles.". Contact Editor Shaun Griswold for questions: info@sourcenm.com. 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. And in May, officials in Georgia ruled that Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene could remain on the ballot after her role in the Capitol riot. 7 Apr. Griffin is fighting to keep his seat on the county commission after three residents of Santa Fe and Los Alamos Counties filed a lawsuit saying he should be removed from office because of his participation in the January 6th insurrection at the Capitol. Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on Twitter at @nicmaxreporter. My office will continue its examination of Otero County and the concerns of its residents.. 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. Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. The decision to represent himself during the bench trial was made, Griffin said, because he felt hed provided the judge with strong evidence to have the case dismissed, and he never thought the case would go to trial. The courts ruling today is a historic moment for our country. 0:36. [5], Recall supporters started circulating petitions on July 1, 2021, and had 90 days to collect signatures equal to 33.3% of voters who cast ballots in Griffin's most recent election, a total of 1,574 signatures. Thanks for contacting us. 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 Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. By allowing this case to move forward, youre going to set a very dangerous precedent, said Griffin. Griffin was accused of trespassing onto the west steps of the Capitol Building Jan. 6. Address 1101 New York Avenue Alamogordo, NM 88310 Lowery was awarded the 2020 William S. Dixon First Amendment Freedom Award from the New Mexico Foundation for Open Government, and the 2021 Sunshine Award from the New Mexico Press Association for his reporting that highlighted lack of transparency from multiple government agencies. Watch Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin get arrested in Washington D.C. Couy Griffin has been charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority. Griffin was arrested on Jan. 18, 2021after being charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building relating to his participation in theCapitol riot. As of 1 p.m. March 22, Otero County had not responded to inquiries for comment from theAlamogordo Daily News. 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. In . Griffin is the co-founder and spokesman for the political advocacy group Cowboys for Trump. The Washington Post has reported that at least 163 Republicans who have embraced Trumps false claims are running for statewide positions that would give them authority over the administration of elections. That is our County Commissioners as well as County Sheriffs. Thats the very essence of democracy, and this ruling affirms it., Jimenez added that Common Cause hoped the ruling would set a precedent for other elected officials who "disregard their oath of office.". The second proposed resolution is not the first which Otero County has considered in objection to New Mexico's public health emergency orders. Their first witness was Matthew Struck, who joined Griffin at the Capitol and served as his videographer. The NAACP, Common Cause and the National Council of Jewish Women submitted amicus briefs stating their support for Griffin's removal as an Otero County Commissioner. Couy Griffin addresses reporters outside federal court in Washington on June 17. "I don't think it's fair to accuse me of insurrection," he says. The Albuquerque Journal has reported that Griffin's commission term concludes at the end of the year, but that he is considering a run for sheriff. Recall supporters would have had to collect 1,574 signatures from registered voters in District 2 in 90 days to get the recall on the ballot. I kind of was bracing myself because I figured that it was going to go this way, Griffin said. Some high-profile legal efforts to remove public officials from their positions due to their involvement in Jan. 6 have failed so far. Michelle Lujan Grisham's public health orders as unconstitutional. All of this would suggest to a normal person that perhaps you should not be entering the area. The judge added that Griffin said in videos he recorded the next day and Jan. 14 that he joined a crowd that pushed through fencing into areas roped off by police for the inauguration. At the hearing, both recall supporters and Griffin were able to present evidence and witnesses. "(Griffin) became constitutionally disqualified from federal and state positions specified (under the U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment, Section 3) and forfeited his current office as Otero County Commissioner effective Jan. 6, 2021," Mathew's ruling states. Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on Twitter at @nicmaxreporter. He turned down an offer to plead to a lesser charge and probation, waived a trial by jury and took his chances with McFadden. 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. Were here to serve you. Couy Dale Griffin (born 1973) is a former politician who served from 2019 to 2022 as a county commissioner for District 2 of Otero County, New Mexico, which covers Tularosa, Three Rivers, La Luz, the western parts of Alamogordo, and the Mescalero Apache Reservation. Arguably, he was trying to calm people down, not rile them up, he said. This conviction is an example of accountability and justice," Coln said. Cities | An effort to recall Couy Griffin (R) from his position as the District 2 representative on the Otero County Commission in New Mexico did not go to a vote in 2021. Much of Mondays trial was spent with the plaintiffs attorneys going over Griffins actions on January 6th, bringing up videos and pictures from that day. More than 770 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot. District 2 Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin, 48 of Tularosa, was found guiltyin federal court March 22 during a bench trial for trespassing on federal grounds during theduring the Jan.6, 2021 Capitol riot. COUNTY COMMISSIONERS' OFFICE 719-383-3000: CSU EXTENSION OFFICE 719-254-7608: HEALTH DEPARTMENT (LA JUNTA) 719-383-3040: HEALTH DEPARTMENT (ROCKY FORD) 719-254-5300: . Humility, brother, he said with a chuckle. By New Mexico state law, any New Mexican can file to have any New Mexico county official removed from office. Its the governors choice.. And being in the audience of Thursdays meeting instead of being seated with the commissioners brought a specific feeling to his mind. At trial last month for the civil lawsuit, Griffin unsuccessfully sought to dismiss the case, the Journal reported. Griffin was previously convicted of a misdemeanor for entering Capitol grounds and was sentenced to 14 days, but was given credit for time served. Griffin says he was not violent while at the Capitol that day and wasn't aware that he was trespassing at the time. Our elected officials and candidatesmust obey the law. The Justice Department had initially asserted that disclosing Pences whereabouts could jeopardize national security interests. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons licence CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. The verdict may post grounds for his removal, the New Mexico Attorney General's Office speculated. According to Barron's Law Dictionary, moral turpitude is "a subjective term for baseness, vileness or dishonesty of a high degree A crime of moral turpitude is one demonstrating depravity in the private and social duties which one person owes to another and society at large,contrary to what is accepted and customary.". Other evidence recorded by a videographer Griffin brought with him to Washington showed him climbing over a stone wall that marked the Capitols security perimeter and walking over trampled plastic mesh fencing and dismantled bicycle rack barriers. "A county commissioner could propose a resolution saying that pigs can fly, it doesn't make it true.". Sept 6 (Reuters) - A New Mexico county commissioner became the first public official to lose their job for participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol when a state judge on Tuesday ruled that the Republican violated the U.S. Constitution by engaging in an insurrection. "I do regret the actions of many on that day that fought with police officers and destroyed government property," he says. The left is always crying about how our democracy is under attack. "I just want those that have already come to the conclusion that I'm guilty, I just again ask you to put the brakes on a little bit and let the legal process take place," Griffin said. Mr. Griffins removal and bar from holding office again is a step towards obtaining justice and restoring the rule of law, Dodd Law Office, LLC President Christopher Dodd said in a Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington news release. My intent of going to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6 was because I had concerns that our elections had been compromised.". Judge Mathews decision is a signal to elected officials everywhere who want to snub their noses at the constitution, foment mob violence and disobey the law, said Mario Jimenez, executive director of Common Cause New Mexico, in a news release. He called it a great day for America and added, The people are showing that they have had enough, prosecutors said. Instead, he will be hiring some great legal minds.. He knew there was danger! [4] The New Mexico Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's ruling on June 28, 2021, allowing the recall effort to move forward. But hes being prosecuted for standing on the steps, a place a federal appeals court has declared to be a public forum, Smith said. "I regret their actions but I don't regret my actions. Griffin told NPR that he was shocked by the ruling. Maya Srikrishnan, Center For Public Integrity. 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. Couy Griffin recall, Otero County, New Mexico (2021), States that have pre-petition signature requirements for recalls, https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/index.php?title=Couy_Griffin_recall,_Otero_County,_New_Mexico_(2021)&oldid=8562281, Pages using DynamicPageList3 dplreplace parser function, Conflicts in school board elections, 2021-2022, Special Congressional elections (2023-2024), 2022 Congressional Competitiveness Report, State Executive Competitiveness Report, 2022, State Legislative Competitiveness Report, 2022, Partisanship in 2022 United States local elections. Earlier this year in New Mexico, Otero County commissioners at first declined to certify the county's primary election, citing baseless claims about the security of voting machines. Griffins trial posed a different legal test, requiring U.S. prosecutors to prove that the defendant knowingly breached a restricted area where then-Vice President Mike Pence or others receiving Secret Service protection were or would be present. By New Mexico state law, any New Mexican can file to have any New Mexico county official removed from office. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Recall supporters did not collect enough signatures by the deadline on September 28, 2021. The outcome of Griffins trial could have a ripple effect, helping other Capitol riot defendants decide whether to let a judge or a jury decide their case. Griffins defense argued there was no evidence that he saw any Do Not Enter sign, was told by police that any area was restricted or knew that Pence was present at the Capitol the same time he was. Despite claims in the proposed resolution, houses of worship are allowed to seat 25% of their capacity and peaceful assemblies have been held in Otero County throughout the pandemic. [9][14], New Mexico allows recalls at the county level for "malfeasance or misfeasance in office or violation of the oath of office by the official concerned." In considering closing arguments submitted by Griffin in the case asking Mathew to consider the will of District 2 constituents, the judge said: "The irony of Mr. Griffin's argument that this Court should refrain from applying the law and consider the will of the people in District 2 of Otero County who retained him as a county commissioner against a recall effort as he attempts to defend his participation in an insurrection by a mob whose goal, by his own admission, was to set aside the results of a free, fair and lawful election by a majority of the people of the entire country (the will of the people) has not escaped this court.". Couy Griffin's Tweets. He also said he was a target because of his relationship with former President Donald Trump. The March 11 Otero County Commission meeting agenda can be found on the Otero County website and will be streamed on YouTube beginning 9 a.m. on March 11. Griffin, one of three members of the Otero County Commission in southern New Mexico, is among a handful of riot defendants who either held. I think that its just very difficult that I dont have the respect of being able to be out by Friday without having the county sheriff or the sheriffs department standing guard.. The Otero County Commission met Thursday for the first time since former Commissioner Couy Griffin was removed from office by court order earlier this week because of his participation in the attack on the U.S. Capitol. An Otero County budget work session is scheduled for March 24. Follow Source New Mexico on Facebook and Twitter. The three New Mexicans were not the only ones who expressed interest in removing Griffin from office. Otero County Courthouse: 13 West 3rd Street. FILE - Otero County, New Mexico Commissioner Couy Griffin speaks to reporters as he arrives at federal court in Washington, June 17, 2022. Griffin could not only lose his seat on the commission but could also be barred from ever running for office again. In considering closing arguments submitted by Griffin in the case asking Mathew to consider the will of District 2 constituents, the judge said: "The irony of Mr. Griffin's argument that this Court should refrain from applying the law and consider the will of the people in District 2 of Otero County who retained him as a county commissioner against a recall effort as he attempts to defend his participation in an insurrection by a mob whose goal, by his own admission, was to set aside the results of a free, fair and lawful election by a majority of the people of the entire country (the will of the people) has not escaped this court.". "I was shocked by the response from the court. Otero County Courthouse: 13 West 3rd Street. District Court Judge Francis Mathew ruled that Couy Griffin, an Otero County commissioner, is now disqualified from holding public office because he violated Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment by participating in the Jan. 6 siege. Judge Mathews decision is a signal to elected officials everywhere who want to snub their noses at the constitution, foment mob violence and disobey the law, said Mario Jimenez, executive director of Common Cause New Mexico, in a news release. This decision marks the first time since 1869 that a court has disqualified a public official under Section 3, and . Griffin is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17. 21, 2022. It's one thing to be charged, it's another thing to be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. However, after Griffin was arrested in January 2021, Otero County business could continue so long as a quorum of at least two county commissioners were present at Otero County Commission meetings, the meetings can continue. This lawsuit is about removing a duly elected county commissioner from office through the civil court. Gemunu Amarasinghe/AP They wont even give me a key to my office so I can get my stuff out without being surveilled by the sheriffs department.. KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. 145 likes, 4 comments - Bloomberg CityLab (@citylab) on Instagram: "Couy Griffin marched to the steps of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 in an attempt to stop the . [9], That is to prayerfully hold the line on a constitutional side, to fight for individual rights, individual liberties and individual freedoms which I believe that by God's grace I have been able to do today. Misogyny is fueling the countrys gun violence epidemic,. Griffins attorneys say hundreds if not thousands of other people did exactly what Griffin did on Jan. 6 and havent been charged with any crimes. Griffin crossed over three walls, needing help from others or a ladder to get over them, the judge noted. Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on Twitter at @nicmaxreporter. Now its no longer the peoples choice. Commissioners ultimately voted 2-1 for certification, with Griffin the lone no vote. In August 2020, the Commission unanimously passed a resolution on the same topic. Why did he motion Byrd to wait? "Griffin shall be removed from his position as an Otero County Commissioner effective immediately.". Assistant U.S. Elections in 2023 | McFadden, an appointee of President Donald Trump, said there was ample evidence that Griffin knew he was in a restricted area and didnt leave. "[7][11][12], New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas (D) also called for Griffin's resignation in a letter published on January 16, 2021. hide caption. Couy Griffin, an Otero County commissioner, responded to questioning in court, after watching a video of himself on U.S. Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, 2021. U.S. Congress | Judge Mathew ruled Tuesday that Griffin was to be removed from his elected position and barred for life from holding any other elected federal and state positions. All rights reserved. He was found guilty of the charge at a federal district court hearing on March 22 and sentenced on June 17 to 14 days of time served and ordered to pay $500 in restitution, a $3,000 fine and complete community service and one year of supervised release. Griffin is one of the few riot defendants who wasnt accused of entering the Capitol building or engaging in any violent or destructive behavior. Both carry maximum sentences of one years imprisonment. Monday - Friday 8 am to 5 pm. Struck has an immunity deal with prosecutors for his testimony. Feb 24 Who is the guy in the blue jacket? [1] Its county seat is Alamogordo. Regardless of what happens next, Bookbinder says this is the first time a court has ruled that what happened on Jan. 6 was an insurrection. He claims the plaintiffs in the case were from liberal counties in the state and were being supported by liberal groups. The judge citied Griffins recorded statements saying that by the time he arrived on the grounds at 2:31 p.m., he erroneously thought Pence and Congress had already certified the election. NEW MEXICO(KRQE) The trial for Otero County Commissioner and Cowboys for Trump founder, Couy Griffin begins Monday in Santa Fe. 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 victory at trial in the probe and affirming its use of an unusual misdemeanor charge against breach participants who, like Griffin, were not violent. After climbing over a stone wall and entering a restricted area outside the Capitol, Griffin said, This is our house we should all be armed, according to prosecutors. Griffin had vowed to arrive at the courthouse on horseback on Monday. [10] Griffin said he would not resign. In a statement released on January 19, 2021, the two commissioners said, "Couy Griffin from his first day as an Otero County Commissioner had devoted himself to promoting Cowboys for Trump for Trump organization rather than being a county commissioner who serves the citizens of Otero County who elected him. Griffin, who is defending himself, said he went to Washington D.C. to peacefully protest and pray. In July, Griffin filed a motion to quash the lawsuit. He had also rhetorically suggested that the blood of political foes could be spilled at the Capitol in defense of the right to bear firearms. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; What's on my ballot? [13], At a county commission meeting on February 11, 2021, Griffin said he was accused of crimes but not convicted. "His protestations and his characterizations of his actions and the events of Jan. 6, 2021 are not credible and amounted to nothing more than attempting to put lipstick on a pig," Mathew's ruling states. Commission unanimously passed a resolution, Couy Griffin released from pretrial detention after being held on Capitol riot charges, Matherly, Marquardt demand Griffin resign from Otero County Commission, March 11 Otero County Commission meeting agenda, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. In an interview Thursday, Griffin told Source New Mexico that he learned of the judges ruling during a phone call from the Otero County manager. More:Couy Griffin released from pretrial detention after being held on Capitol riot charges, More:Matherly, Marquardt demand Griffin resign from Otero County Commission. We can only get our country back from the ground floor. He breached security barriers outside of the building and eventually assumed a leadership role in the mob and egged on the violence, Mathew said in his ruling. The Otero County Commissioners have had enough of Cowboys for Trump leader Couy Griffin. Tweets. But the judge said prosecutors didnt meet their burden to prove that Griffin engaged in disorderly conduct. Assistant US Attorney Janani Iyengar said Griffin climbed over metal bike racks, up a plywood ramp and shouted over the crowd about his belief that the election was stolen from Trump. Michelle Lujan Grisham, confirmed that the governor will fill the vacancy, adding that the governor accepts applications from eligible residents as possible replacements. State and local courts | Jeter Downs needs to play to develop. Build the strongest argument relying on authoritative content, attorney-editor expertise, and industry defining technology. States keep taking it. Daves Hot Chicken will have you begging for more, and maybe for mercy, Josiah Gray finishes April with a flourish as Nats avoid a series sweep, at least 163 Republicans who have embraced Trumps false claims, National Football League began playing Lift Every Voice and Sing, what is referred to the Black national anthem. , Photos: Sky News 13 flies over Good Friday pilgrimages, PHOTOS: Storm moves through New Mexico leaving snow, Snow causes difficult driving conditions across NM, Map: New Mexico Veterans Monuments and Memorials, BestReviews.com - Top gifts to make everyone happy this spring, Surprise your mom with one of these Mothers Day, Mothers Day inspo: This foot massager has 20,000, Drew Barrymores Walmart collection is perfect for, Best Mothers Day gifts for the budding plant mom, 13 Broadcast Pl SW, Albuquerque, NM, 87104, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Griffin told NPR he will appeal this latest ruling. Otero County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Pence spent Jan. 6 at underground Senate loading dock, Secret Service confirms. This story has been shared 182,853 times. [2] Its southern boundary is the Texas state line. He went on some tangents prompting Judge Mathew to put his foot down to stay on track. Well what bigger example is there whenever the courts remove a duly elected representative only to make way for the governor to hand select who she wants to represent the people? Griffin said. Gemunu Amarasinghe / AP file "I have huge concerns with the voting machines," said Commissioner. This has been the hardest time of my life, not that Im trying to get anybodys sympathy. Griffin was released from federal prison on February 5, 2021. Otero County, N.M., Commissioner Couy Griffin was arrested Sunday for illegally entering the Capitol on Jan. 6. The resolution also alleges thegovernor's emergency powerswere meant for short-term issues andthat "the use by state officials of emergency power for extended periods is antidemocratic and is danger to the rights of the people," the resolution reads. Exclusive news, data and analytics for financial market professionals, Reporting by Brendan O'Brien in Chicago; editing by Jonathan Oatis, Texas man accused of killing five neighbors was deported four times, US may default June 1 without debt ceiling hike; Biden calls McCarthy to meet, US to end COVID vaccination requirements on May 11 for foreign travelers, federal workers, Biden urges Republicans take debt default off table, warns interest rates would jump, Brazil police shoot dead 4 illegal gold miners on Yanomami reservation, British royals release photo of a beaming Princess Charlotte, UK retailers report record food inflation but see falls ahead, US lawmakers dig into partisan corners as debt ceiling default looms, Sudanese fleeing north face arduous crossing into Egypt. fighting style blox fruits tier list,
Anglican Church In North America Women's Ordination,
Articles O