A New Mexico county official will be “banned for life” and “constitutionally incapable of holding public office” after he was convicted of his involvement in the attack on the U.S. Capitol, a judge has ordered.
Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin, the founder of the “Trump Cowboys,” will be immediately removed from office, according to a Sept. 6 court order.
Griffin, who was convicted of a misdemeanor for his role in the Capitol riots on January 6, 202, recently refused to certify local election results, relied on debunked conspiracy theories about voting machines, and was charged by Donald Trump. False legal challenges and false narratives by Trump and Donald Trump. his allies.
Judge Francis J. Matthew ruled that Griffin was disqualified from office under Section 4 of the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, holding that anyone who “participated in insurrection or insurrection” or provided “aid or comfort” to insurgents would be disqualified from office. Disqualification from holding public office.
The judge’s order, the first by a court to disqualify a public official in more than 100 years, follows a lawsuit filed by a group of New Mexico residents.
Noah Bookbinder, president of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which represents the plaintiffs, called the order a “historic victory for accountability” in the wake of the attacks.
“Protecting American democracy means ensuring that those who violate our constitutional oath are held accountable,” he said in a statement Tuesday. “This decision makes clear that any current or former public official who takes an oath to defend the U.S. Constitution and subsequently engages [6 January insurrection] Can and will be removed from office and banned from government service for their actions. “
Judge points to “irony” of Griffin’s attempt to justify his actions and urges court not to “apply the law” despite his involvement in “riots” with “thugs” who, by his own admission, aim to set aside freedom, fairness and legitimate elections. “
Griffin was sentenced on June 17 to 14 days in prison, including time already served, and a $3,000 fine, plus a year of supervised release and 60 hours of community service.
Earlier this year, he was convicted on a misdemeanor charge of entering a restricted area, but was acquitted of disorderly conduct.
Video footage during the riots captures him saying he “has Mike Pence in our prayers” and wants the vice president, who oversees a joint session of Congress to prove the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, will “do the right thing” and refuse to reflect The votes of millions of Americans.
Griffin allegedly climbed the collapsed fence and another barrier to reach the steps of the Capitol and used a megaphone to call the mob to prayer. He reportedly did not enter the building or engage in violence.
Federal prosecutors recommended that he be sentenced to at least three months in prison; he faces up to a year in prison.
After Griffin refused, the New Mexico Supreme Court ordered the Otero County Commission to certify the 2022 primary. The state attorney general’s office also threatened legal action if the committee didn’t comply.
The committee ultimately approved the result by a 2-1 vote, with Griffin maintaining his “no” vote.
His defiance has alarmed democratic groups and voting rights advocates, who have repeatedly warned against a wave of candidates and officials who reject the election running for the office charged with administering or certifying election results, reiterating Mr. Trump’s consistent lie that 2020 Elections in 2009 were affected by fraud.
Analysts have warned that their claims could erode public trust in the electoral process in order to legitimize the anti-democratic takeover of election management.
This is a developing story
