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. if(document.getElementsByClassName("reference").length==0) if(document.getElementById('Footnotes')!==null) document.getElementById('Footnotes').parentNode.style.display = 'none'; What's on my ballot? And though hes been removed from his seat on the county commission, Griffin showed that he wont be silenced when it comes to county matters and is more than willing to address decisions made by his former colleagues as a private citizen. 0:36. "We have been fortunate as a country to not have many episodes of insurrection and certainly not insurrections in which elected officials have played a part," Bookbinder says. Otero County Courthouse: 13 West 3rd Street. , 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. White, Mitchell and Lakind were represented by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and the New Mexico-based law firms of Freedman Boyd Hollander and Goldberg P.A, Dodd Law Office, LLC, and the Law Office of Amber Fayerberg, LLC, as well as by Cohen Milstein Sellers & Toll PLLC. He called it a great day for America and added, The people are showing that they have had enough, prosecutors said. Couy Griffin recall, Otero County, New Mexico (2021) Approximately 100 others have trial dates. The courts ruling today is a historic moment for our country. Thats also when he learned he no longer had access to his county office, and that his county-issued computer had been removed from his office. January 6, 2021 was a dark day in our history. This article originally appeared on Alamogordo Daily News: Couy Griffin removed from District 2 Otero County Commissioner seat, U.S. Constitution's 14th Amendment's Disqualification Clause, Couy Griffin removed from District 2 Otero County Commissioner seat. "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. 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.". By New Mexico state law, any New Mexican can file to have any New Mexico county official removed from office. La Junta, CO 81050 (719) 383-3000. Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin leaves the federal court in Washington on March. Maya Srikrishnan, Center For Public Integrity. States keep taking it. Likes. Griffin could have thought business was still taking place, but the burden was on the government to prove it beyond a reasonable doubt, McFadden said. 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. 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. Coronavirus: Otero County approves out-of-state travel resolution Pence remained in the loading dock location for four to five hours, until the joint session of Congress resumed on the night of Jan. 6, Hawa testified. She's the current county commissioner for the area.. Couy Griffin is no longer the District 2 Otero County Commissioner per a ruling by District Judge Francis Mathew. Source New Mexico maintains editorial independence. CREW represented three New Mexico residents who brought the civil lawsuit against Griffin this past March and called for him to be removed. On Jan. 6, Griffin joined thousands of people at the Capitol. In Tuesdays decision, Judge Mathew ruled that Griffin had broken his oath to support the Constitution when he participated in the Jan. 6, 2021 attack in Washington, D.C., violating Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. The second proposed resolution is not the first which Otero County has considered in objection to New Mexico's public health emergency orders. Cities | They are not above it. Griffin says he was not violent while at the Capitol that day and wasn't aware that he was trespassing at the time. 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. Social Services Annex: 215 Raton Ave. A former Disneyland Paris rodeo cowboy and self-styled preacher, Griffin is a stonemason and racial provocateur whose use of social media won him plaudits from Trump and an invitation to the Oval Office. He also expressed frustration that a judge, and not Otero County voters, had the final say. In July, Griffin filed a motion to quash the lawsuit. Maureen Cohen Harrington via Storyful, Storyful, was found guiltyin federal court March 22. The three New Mexicans were not the only ones who expressed interest in removing Griffin from office. C4T Leader Couy Griffin Refuses to Leave Commission A county official in New Mexico who was convicted of entering a restricted area during the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol must be immediately removed from office for his involvement in an insurrection, a judge decided Tuesday. Each speaker was given three minutes to address the commission, and Griffin used his time to discuss two items on the agenda funding for a road and a contract extension for the county attorney. [13], At a county commission meeting on February 11, 2021, Griffin said he was accused of crimes but not convicted. Click here to contact our editorial staff, and click here to report an error. 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. 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. Local news, weather, sports, events, restaurants and more, Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin guilty in first Jan. 6 misdemeanor trial, 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. ( AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe, File) Griffin is one of three members of the Republican-led Otero County commission that is refusing to certify June's primary election results, citing unfounded conspiracy theories about voting. More: Couy Griffin arrives for trial in Washington, D.C. Griffin is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17 in person in U.S. Federal Court. The judge denied the motion and said he would refer Hiram to the disciplinary counsel for the investigation of possibly practicing law without having a license. I know that sometimes you travel down a hard road to get to a better road, but Gods a gracious God, and I think hes got me on that track., GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX, by Ryan Lowery, Source New Mexico September 9, 2022. Defense attorney Nicholas Smith said the case against Griffin was built on a series of false assumptions and premises. Trial testimony showed Griffin went to the Capitol to support free and fair elections, Smith told the judge. The court is expected to resume Tuesday at 9 a.m. 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. Both carry maximum sentences of one years imprisonment. Griffin was previously convicted of a misdemeanor for entering Capitol grounds and was sentenced to 14 days, but was given credit for time served. 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. Commissioners | Otero County "There are several bases for removal including conviction of a felony or misdemeanor 'involving moral turpitude' and 'failure, neglect or refusal to discharge the duties of office'. Follow Source New Mexico on Facebook and Twitter. They are not above it. Otero County, New Mexico Commissioner Couy Griffin speaks to reporters as he arrives at federal court in Washington, Friday, June. 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. 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. We can only get our country back from the ground floor. Leading up to Jan. 6, Griffin and his organization helped mobilize the "Stop the Steal" movement that falsely claimed Donald Trump's election defeat in 2020 was the result of widespread fraud, an assertion rejected by multiple courts, state election officials and members of his own administration, Mathew wrote. 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. This story has been shared 401,284 times. [5][6], Recall supporters said Griffin had used the office for personal gain. 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. Prior to the verdict, the New Mexico Attorney General's Office discussed what a conviction would mean for the Otero County Commission, where Griffin holds the District 2 seat. Otero County commissioner files restraining order against Couy Griffin [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. [2] Its southern boundary is the Texas state line. While reading his verdict, he said Griffin was not on the steps. Griffin, who attended proceedings in a black cowboy hat, left the courthouse in D.C. echoing former president Donald Trumps baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen. Browse an unrivalled portfolio of real-time and historical market data and insights from worldwide sources and experts. Griffin is one of the few riot defendants who wasnt accused of entering the Capitol building or engaging in any violent or destructive behavior. Address 1101 New York Avenue Alamogordo, NM 88310 He said the civil lawsuit that led to it was unfair and "purely political." Griffin told Reuters that he plans to appeal the ruling, saying Mathew did not have jurisdictional standing to remove him from office. Click here to contact us for media inquiries, and please donate here to support our continued expansion. ", Mares did not elaborate on what "moral turpitude" entails. Couy Griffin, whose violent rhetoric Trump promoted, is arrested - The [4] The New Mexico Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's ruling on June 28, 2021, allowing the recall effort to move forward. My own actions were lawful.". [10] Griffin said he would not resign. Attempts by the Alamogordo Daily News to contact Griffin about the ruling were unsuccessful. See here for a complete list of exchanges and delays. In his ruling on the case, Mathew contended that Griffin was not eligible to hold office because of his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riots. Couy Griffin found guilty, here's what it means to Otero County The most comprehensive solution to manage all your complex and ever-expanding tax and compliance needs. The Commission meeting is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. Griffin's attendance was not confirmed at the meeting, as a federal district court arraignmentwas scheduled for the same time and day. [9][10], After Griffin was arrested, District 1 Commissioner Gerald Matherly (R) and District 3 Commissioner Vickie Marquardt (R) called for his resignation. Struck has an immunity deal with prosecutors for his testimony. La Junta, CO 81050 (719) 383-3000. 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. Email Amy Barela. Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on Twitter at @nicmaxreporter. "(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. That resolution was also sponsored by Griffin. Amy Barela District 2 Commissioner. By allowing this case to move forward, youre going to set a very dangerous precedent, said Griffin. We are actively considering all options under New Mexico law. Hawa said agents took Pence from his office at the Capitol to a secure location at an underground loading dock on the Capitol complex. "Under New Mexico law, a local officer may be removed from office upon written accusation," New Mexico Attorney General's Office spokeswoman Jerri Mares said. It is named for Miguel Antonio Otero, the territorial governor when the county was created. As of 1 p.m. March 22, Otero County had not responded to inquiries for comment from theAlamogordo Daily News. Social Services Annex: 215 Raton Ave. La Junta, CO 81050. Griffin's actions were "overt acts in support of the insurrection.". He continued to claim he was a victim of political persecution although his judge was appointed by Trump in 2017 and served as a Justice Department criminal division official in the Trump and George W. Bush administrations. But its been very difficult for me, Griffin said. New Mexico county commissioner first to be removed from office over Jan Monday - Friday 8 am to 5 pm. Otero County Commission denies Couy Griffin legal help in personal Griffin, however, attended the meeting and even spoke during the public comment session. U.S. President | "I didn't have any intent of being a part of an insurrection or a violent mob. 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. Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin gestures before getting into a car after the first day of his trial in federal court in Washington on March 21. Trump cowboy found not guilty of campaign finance charge [3] An unusual series of items is scheduled for discussion at the March 11 Otero County Commission. He claims the plaintiffs in the case were from liberal counties in the state and were being supported by liberal groups. Prosecutors played video clips that showed Griffin moving through the mob that formed outside the Capitol, where police used pepper spray to quell rioters. 2023 www.alamogordonews.com. "A county commissioner could propose a resolution saying that pigs can fly, it doesn't make it true.". Gemunu Amarasinghe / AP file "I have huge concerns with the voting machines," said Commissioner. [15], Supporters of the recall against Griffin filed paperwork with the New Mexico Twelfth Judicial District Court on March 11, 2021, requesting a hearing to determine if their recall petition could be circulated. He knew there was danger! DEIJ Policy | Ethics Policy | Privacy Policy. 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. Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on Twitter at @nicmaxreporter. The verdict may post grounds for his removal, the New Mexico Attorney General's Office speculated. Couy Griffin first elected official barred from office for participating in Jan. 6 attack. FILE - Otero County, New Mexico Commissioner Couy Griffin speaks to reporters as he arrives at federal court in Washington, June 17, 2022. "(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. We've received your submission. "Griffin shall be removed from his position as an Otero County Commissioner effective immediately.". Recall supporters did not collect enough signatures by the deadline on September 28, 2021. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. This is a historic win for accountability for the January 6th insurrection and the efforts to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power in the United States," said Noah Bookbinder, the president of the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), an ethics watchdog that filed a lawsuit against Griffin, calling for his removal. Ukrainian photographer missing following captured journali Woman has 'loud, full body orgasm' in the middle of LA concert, Bride killed, groom seriously hurt by drunk driver just minutes after leaving reception, Red carpet live updates and star-studded highlightsfrom the Karl Lagerfeld-themed Met Gala, Pete Davidson keeps it casual in a bucket hat on the Met Gala 2023 red carpet, Paris Hilton makes Met Gala 2023 red carpet debut in a black leather gown, Kim Kardashian is draped in pearls and corset at Met Gala 2023, Khristina Williams previews the New York Liberty's 2023 WNBA season, Elon Musk Tells Bill Maher Woke Mind Virus Is Dangerous On Real Time, Met Gala red carpet: Live updates of all the celebrity outfits. Michelle Lujan Grisham, confirmed that the governor will fill the vacancy, adding that the governor accepts applications from eligible residents as possible replacements. At the hearing, both recall supporters and Griffin were able to present evidence and witnesses. 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. State and local courts | Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world's media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers. Access unmatched financial data, news and content in a highly-customised workflow experience on desktop, web and mobile. 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. The Otero County Commission held a special meeting on Monday afternoon to discuss a resolution about county employees or elected officials who travel of state.. Couy Griffin: New Mexico county commissioner removed from elected Judge Mathew ordered that effective immediately, Griffin is "barred for life" from serving as a senator, congressman, elector or from holding any civil or military office federally or in any state. According to a new filing at the Otero County Courthouse, Couy Griffin is facing a restraining order from Stephanie Dubois. Ballot measures, Who represents me? "Griffin shall be removed from his position as an Otero County Commissioner effective immediately.". In the first trial of a felony defendant earlier this month, a jury deliberated barely two hours before finding Guy Reffitt guilty on all five counts, convicting the recruiter for a self-styled Texas militia movement of felony charges including obstruction of an official proceeding, witness tampering and interfering with police in a riot. 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. 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. Tribes need tax revenue. 0:36. Our elected officials and candidatesmust obey the law. The resolution states that employees and elected . Griffin won election in 2018 with 65 percent of the vote but is not seeking reelection. "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. Amy Barela District 2 Commissioner. Attempts by the Alamogordo Daily News to contact Griffin about the ruling were unsuccessful. Broke and disillusioned, Couy Griffin keeps fighting for Trump - KUNM Public policy. Resolutions, when passed, do not hold the weight of law, rather indicate positions of understanding or support. Fax: 575-443-2928. He was charged with "knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority," according to the Alamogordo Daily News. Couy Griffin (@CowboyCouy) / Twitter Couy Griffin is no longer the District 2 Otero County Commissioner per a ruling by District Judge Francis Mathew. He is among only three riot defendants who have asked for a bench trial, in which judges decide a case without a jury. County Commission | Otero County, NM Griffin had vowed to arrive at the courthouse on horseback on Monday. Now its no longer the peoples choice. Griffin told NPR he will appeal this latest ruling. If you have questions about your subscription, please contact Customer Service at AlamogordoDailyNews@Gannett.com or call1-877-301-0013. The Soldiers' Monument, also known as The Obelisk, was toppled by Indigenous Peoples Dayactivists in October 2020, an event which has already resulted in five arrests. Our stories may be republished online or in print under Creative Commons license CC BY-NC-ND 4.0. Counties | Griffin, founder of politicaladvocacy group Cowboys for Trump, also requested a discussion period be placed on the agenda which would focus on Chairman Gerald Matherly and Commissioner Vickie Marquardt's call for Griffin to resign his Commission seat. 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. Official guilty of illegally entering Capitol grounds Jan. 6 McFadden rejected that contention before trial, finding that Griffins alleged leadership role, more blatant conduct and position as an elected official might rationally merit different handling by prosecutors. This article was published more than1 year ago. 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. Smith said prosecutors apparently believe Griffin engaged in disorderly conduct by peacefully leading a prayer on the Capitol steps. Griffin is the first elected official to be removed from office for their involvement in the riot. Arguably, he was trying to calm people down, not rile them up, he said. Failing to be present at county commission meetings, Being unable to perform his duties within his district due to being banned from the sovereign nation and lands of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, Filming a video inside the County Commission Administration building to solicit funds for a political organization, Filing a travel voucher with the county to pay for events that did not relate to his duties as a county commissioner, Soliciting and receiving a donation from a restricted donor. Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. Hes on the [inauguration] stage, while police worked to restore order for hours. 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. State legislature | Griffin is scheduled to be sentenced on June 17. I feel like I was just really railroaded," Griffin said. 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 courts ruling today is a historic moment for our country. Griffin and his two fellow commissioners voted to conduct the audit despite concerns about its legality noted by County Attorney R.B. Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the worlds largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. 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 crossed over three walls, needing help from others or a ladder to get over them, the judge noted. Why did he motion Byrd to wait? 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. Couy Griffin (@CowboyCouy) / Twitter I kind of was bracing myself because I figured that it was going to go this way, Griffin said. 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. Each charge was punishable by up to one year in jail. Griffin, one of three members of the Otero County Commission in southern New Mexico, is among a handful of riot defendants who either held. Griffins mockery of Native American rites got him banned from Mescalero Apache Tribe lands.
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