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. The fanciful arguments of conspiracists obscure the countrys real need to continue to address election vulnerabilities, she said, such as internet voting 31 states and the District of Columbia allow it for overseas, military and in some places disabled voters as well as outdated paperless voting machines. Colorado State slices up Lobos; UNM is a 6 seed in league tourney, After bill was vetoed last year, lawmakers try again to boost pay of NM judges, If it MUST be the NIT, UNM basketball has a plan. It makes me sick whenever I watch it.". A recent report from congressional Democrats on election misinformation highlighted Clementss activities and concluded that the greatest current threat to democratic legitimacy now comes from lies by domestic actors who seek to convince Americans that their election systems are fraudulent, corrupt, or insecure., New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, who has clashed repeatedly with Clements and his wife, said the misinformation and disinformation were being seeded as core beliefs, not just with elected officials but the general public.. And that was one that got me, said Brown, part of a committee seeking to recall Griffin. FILE - Otero County, New Mexico Commissioner Couy Griffin speaks to reporters as he arrives at federal court in Washington, June 17, 2022. As news of the attack came, he was in his cabin in the mountains of New Mexico with his wife and three young children. Speak up a little.Officer: I said I am going to issue a citation for a seatbelt. Griffin is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The trial itself is expected to commence on Tuesday February 28th, 2023 with national media attention. Subscribe now to access decluttered news, chosen by you. , Case dismissed for teen accused of taking gun to, Elderly man who killed sister takes plea deal, 2023 state basketball tournament brackets, Whats happening around New Mexico Feb. 24 Mar. On Aug. 11, Clements and his wife presented the final findings of their audit in a special five-hour commissioners meeting, during which he got into a shouting match with the county attorney and told Holmes she should resign because it was disgusting how you fight the people. She left the meeting in tears. The ruling comes after lawyers for Griffin's ex-wife, Kourtnie, filed an emergency motion in May to modify their custody and visitation agreement. Couy Griffin back in court to fight for his job He says Griffin is right about lots of things, like the need for a border wall. De-extinction is a, Roundhouse Roundup: Paramilitary rules, youth parole, Rio Bravo Park cleanup will take longer than expected, Gun safety bill passes Senate, faces one more hurdle, Restaurants still struggling to recover from COVID, Roswell PD: Woman steals, drives wrong-way to get, More from KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos, State basketball tournament: Girls first round recap, BCSO: Kids were living in dirty home containing drugs, Local casino hosts National Fiery Foods & BBQ Show, UNM police arrest man for giving false ID, fleeing, Man connected to political shootings to stay behind, Whats happening around New Mexico Mar. Contact Senator Griggs and Burton for Yes. Mr Griffin, the founder of Cowboys for Trump, said in an interview with journalist Mr Griffin that he believed both Sicknick and Ashli Babbitt are still alive. An ex-professor spreads election myths across the U.S., one town at a You people are funny that claim I harass Mr Griffin. Mr Griffin participated in a phone interview with Anthony Lucero on Alamogordo Town News radio edition on KALHRADIO.org 95.1 FM he explained the upcoming trail from his standpoint per a link at the end of this story. Just weeks later, in October 2021, he was fired, by his own account, for refusing to wear a mask in class. A disdain for central government set in early, when conservation laws affected the family business. Its like hes been radicalized somehow. The folksy origin story might have helped his successful 2018 run for county commissioner but once in office Griffin amplified violence and bigotry. Griffin has cast Democratic Gov. Both are extremely concerning and truly terrifying to say the least.. In October, around the time he was fired from his university job, David and Erin Clements mailed a 261-page document to commissioners and county clerks across New Mexico alleging widespread issues with the voting systems what the congressional report called imaginary fraud.. By MORGAN LEE February 28, 2023. 3 Mar. Published: January 6, 2022 - 1:40 PM. Couy Griffin and his horse grift America. I know they do. Pacing the room at the senior center in Neligh, microphone in hand, Clements put the matter in stark terms. "And I really thought that the president was going to come through on his end, and unfortunately, he never did. Its about the money, and this week in Otero County, New Mexico a jury will decide. Im a child of the trailer park. But this is also a man who beat a "Mom and Pop business" that has 5 kids out of thousands of dollars. In Sandoval County, Clements had so riled residents that the commissioners had to be removed from the hearing room by sheriffs deputies for their safety after voting 4-1 to approve the results, according to County Commissioner Katherine Bruch, a Democrat. Were in a contest of wills. Theyre going find out he didnt have anything to do with these types of things, he said. Dysfunctional family. But she "did not take her minor child to war with her" as Couy Griffin is doing by taking their son to President Donald Trump campaign events during a pandemic, the attorneys said. Anti-vaxxers quickly embraced Clements, with far-right Colorado podcaster Joe Oltmann creating an online fundraiser for him and calling him a lightning rod of truth and courage. The appeal has since brought in more than $304,000 in donations, including from donors who say they support his election integrity crusade. He grew up in Reserve, in western New Mexico, where his father ran a sawmill. Why dont you go back to Africa and form your little football teams. I do worry about potential violence toward election officials, in particular around the upcoming general election, she said. In the end, the commissioners voted to sue the secretary of states office for forcing them to certify the primary results. EXCLUSIVE: Blake Griffin and Ryan Kalil are getting into business with Sony Pictures Entertainment. Because I want to make sure our voices are accurately captured. Michelle Lujan Grisham as his political nemesis on issues of gun control, abortion and pandemic restrictions. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Couy Griffin, Cowboys for Trump founder and Otero County commissioner, was arrested last year for his involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. I stand before you as someone who used to be an award-winning professor, an award-winning prosecutor who is unemployed, Clements said. Thanks for contacting us. Griffin was convicted in federal court of entering a restricted area outside the U.S. Capitol. What the disqualification of Trump ally Couy Griffin means - The New Mexico judge removes county commissioner from office for A federal judge found Couy Griffin, a county commissioner from New Mexico and founder of the group "Cowboys For Trump," guilty on one of two counts stemming from the Capitol riot. Clements ended on a mournful note just before the audience began trickling out into the quiet evening, the sun setting over fields of thirsty corn. Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin, the founder of Cowboys for Trump, takes in the view from his ranch in Tularosa, N.M., on Wednesday, May 12, 2021. Griffin, an ardent conspiracy theorist who refused to certify the state's primary election results this summer in Otero County, told CNN he has been ordered to clean out his office and attacked. But when it was operational, it offered options to donate to the organization by direct donation or by purchasing merchandise. Griffin has acknowledged using the county building for promotional videos but said he never claimed they were affiliated with Otero County. As his zeal over election fraud heightened, other associates fell away. A judge removed Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin from elected New images show Couy Griffin scaling barricade during Capitol riots Couy Griffin: 'Cowboys for Trump' founder appears in January 6 - MSN Because I care about the truth. And he is disillusioned with Trump himself, citing an issue that brings him back to his earliest grievances: forest management. Their son was born in 2014. They have a Son Together was born in 2014. The criminal complaint which is basis for the lawsuit states that "on or between January 15, 2020 and March 18, 2022, Couy Griffin did willfully and knowingly violate and provision of the Campaign Reporting Act by failing to register Cowboys for Trump as a political committee with the Secretary of State, by failing to file all required finance reports and by failing to pay statutory fines for failure to file; after receiving a lawful order to do so, a misdemeanor offense.". Because what they get away to doing to me will be what they inevitably do to you. . All they need to do to change the system, he assured them, is to win over a handful of commission votes. Clements, who was born in Seattle, grew up the child of itinerant parents who worked blue-collar jobs. While he did face criticism, including from fellow Republicans, in the aftermath of the events at the Capitol, Griffin survived an effort to recall him from his position, when a petition did not garner enough signatures. Griffin has been rebuked by some Republicans over his racial invective. "There's no absolutely no reason for this," she said. Griffin said he is confident the judge will dismiss the lawsuit. Judge removes Griffin from office for engaging in the January 6 I'm sure the NM State Police will send you a video of the notorious cowboy criminal being cuffed and perp-walked. Neither, however, has experience running elections or formal education in voting machine systems. And yet, Griffin said in an interview that the audit is strategic, designed to forge a path so other counties in New Mexico audit their elections, a gambit that echoes a nationwide push by Republican officials to sow doubt about election results by pushing for audits. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Couy Griffin, Cowboys for Trump founder and Otero County commissioner, was arrested last year for his . Officer: Where you headed to? And something happened. Here you have Couy Griffin as Cowboys For Trump not only hiding assets from his ex-wife and son. Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin barred from public office over The Oath Keeper. Clements said in a brief interview in Nebraska that he believes his efforts are noble. "Cowboys for Trump" co-founder Couy Griffin speaks to reporters as he arrives at federal court in Washington on June 17, 2022. . And yet he remains determined. Sporting News sends Vikings an edge rusher with upside in latest mock and signed a child-support check to his ex-wife from his Cowboys for Trump account. The county sheriffs sole duty and responsibility is to protect our individual rights, he said. Who is going to break whose will? Clements said. Trump Cowboy Seeks 2nd Act in Politics After Capitol Attack The U.S. intelligence community has continued to warn that foreign actors are probably targeting American elections. Griffin plans to ride the charges out to trial, claiming theres more than meets the eye. "And they're trying to spin routine election administration processes as somehow improper. He says his obsession with politics has taken a toll, contributing to his 2019 divorce and tensions with relatives. But David and Erin Clements pressed on, appearing before the three-member, all-Republican Otero commission with a new target: the states June 7 primary. Griffin recalled. Couy Griffin (@CowboyCouy) / Twitter Cell phone video captured the violence and chaos of that day. Do you regret anything that happened? I take the seatbelts very serious.Griffin: Oh yeah, Im sure.Officer: Yeah, just because all the crashes Ive seen.Griffin: Its too bad you dont take more of the drugs and the other crime going on a little bit more serious instead of out here citing people for no seatbelts. "And he kind of laughed and said no. The first call to the press he made was to our reporter to the station we own. 2-23-23 Alamogordo Town News Thursday Edition with Anthony Lucero KALHRadio.org, Creative Arts Community Action Alert Senate Action Begins Saturday. US District Judge Trevor McFadden heard one day of testimony without a jury on Monday before handing down a verdict in the misdemeanor case against Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin, a. They embrace the instructions of leaders like former Trump adviser turned podcaster Stephen K. Bannon, who has urged election deniers to run for local races and sign up to be poll workers in what he calls his precinct-by-precinct takeover strategy. Its probably why New Mexico is a toilet. "And it's cost me everything - from a marriage, to finances, to friends.". A donkey named Henry brays from a side yard. Today, Couy Griffin is divorced, disparaged by family and confronts a political recall drive, a state corruption investigation and federal charges. Clements, 42, was a popular tenure-track assistant professor teaching law in the business school of New Mexico State University on Jan. 6, 2021, when a mob loyal to Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol. He has appeared on Fox News and on Bannons podcast. That case was appealed to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals which declined to reverse the federal district court decision, After an appeal to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals declined to reverse the decision made by U.S. District Court's dismissal of a case where Cowboys for Trump tried to have the. Any further details regarding Kourtnie have not been disclosed yet. The pickup was emblazoned with his Cowboys For Trump logo. Holmes has grown so disheartened by the couples oft-repeated allegations that she has stopped coming to meetings unless asked for. Brittany Costello: A number of people are facing charges, including you. Couy Griffin was wanted on an arrest warrant after storming the barricades of the Capitol Jan. 6, said authorities. Be safe.Griffin: Id be embarrassed if I was you guys.Officer: Alright. Theyre trying to make it look like I was part of an insurrection in Washington, D.C., and insurrection is a criminal charge, Griffin said Friday in a phone interview. I am already bracing for a media frenzy during this time because there is so much on the line. Public defense attorneys say a close reading of the law shows the area wasnt off limits. I can handle a lot. Distraught that Bidens victory would be validated by Congress despite the insurrection, he has said that he ran outside and fell on his knees, next to the fire pit. Copyright 2023 2nd Life Media AlamogordoTownNews.com. The cowboy. Youre in the middle of elections that are fraudulent right now if what theyre telling us is true., If what theyre telling us is true, Holmes said, shouting, IF!. The lawsuit contends that Griffin violated the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits officeholders sworn to uphold the Constitution from engaging in an insurrection against the U.S. government. Thats something the media is not telling us right now, not showing us but its going to come out. And yet he remains determined. The Proud Boy. 'Cowboys for Trump' Co-Founder Declared Not Guilty in Court, Says He's Some have. Holmes said this is baseless and runs the risk of eroding trust in democratic systems. Clements is one among a tightknit circle of Trump supporters who travel the country as self-appointed election fraud evangelists. 'Cowboys For Trump' Founder Arrested In D.C. After Vowing To - HuffPost If I was in your position I wouldnt be able to sleep at night, Griffin said to Holmes. What is sure to be a media circus for Alamogordo next week, Jury selection will begin Monday at the Otero County New Mexico Courthouse in the trial of the state of New Mexico v Couy Griffin, leader of Cowboys for Trump. Guitarist Ottmar Liebert bringing his unique blend of music Ottmar Liebert and his band Luna Negra will perform with the New Mexico Philharmonic at Popejoy Hall on Saturday, March 11. Officer: Reason why I stopped you, is I observed when you were back there and you werent wearing your seatbelt. He has sent out a public plea in an attempt to win in the court of public opinion, by garnering a large showing of supporters, shoulder to shoulder to appear at the Otero County Courthouse. I come to you as someone who had a future. AG's office investigating Cowboys for Trump leader He saw the sawmill's work as "curating" the forest. "There have already been three audits," including one by the Secretary of State's office and another by an independent contractor. Im not asking you all to storm the beaches of Normandy, to suffer a bloody death to save our republic. Trump cowboy seeks 2nd act in politics after U.S. Capitol breach Under the first-look pact, Mortal Media will develop and produce a range of projects across film and television, in [] His grandfather Wee Griffin held the Catron County post from 1963 to 1966. CPAC 2023 - live: DeSantis skips four-day event as Trump and key GOP Judge bars Cowboys for Trump leader from son over posts 1998 - 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Griffin is scheduled on Monday and Tuesday for a trial without a jury before 1st Judicial District Judge Francis Mathew in Santa Fe. The New Mexico attorney general investigated embattled former Otero County Commissioner and Cowboys For Trump founder Couy Griffin for using C4T funds for personal use and taking official acts as commissioner for his personal gain. Couy Griffin Career Griffin was found taking active participation in the 2021 US Capitol riots and was arrested for the same on 8th January 2021. He said he began examining the alleged evidence of fraud in contested states like Georgia and Pennsylvania in the days following the election, and later had some of those who claimed to have observed it firsthand appear on his YouTube videos. Griffin has claimed he did not knowingly trespass. You think that the governor hates me as a county commissioner put a gun and a badge on me, and well see.. A New Mexico judge on Tuesday removed Otero County commissioner Couy Griffin by invoking the 14th Amendment's prohibition on those who engaged in insurrection from serving in office. Manage the news you want to see, read exclusive content and explore other subscriber benefits. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. This decision marks the first time since 1869 that a court has disqualified a public official under Section 3, and . The Cowboys for Trump website was not operational Feb. 13. Here are 13 more things about Couy: "I was never involved in anything violent on that day, and there was never anything violently done around me," he said when asked about the incident. Couy Griffin will be featured on Wikipedia . New Mexico official Couy Griffin barred from office over Capitol riot Couy Griffin gives state police earful during traffic stop Brittany Costello: Are you willing to share those? Hero Worship - WackyRacky The producing partners have signed a multi-year first-look development and production deal for film and TV via their Mortal Media production banner. Jury weighs whether Cowboys for Trump flouted campaign law In July. The group captivated the public imagination with its first outing, a 2019 flag-waving ride down the shore of the Potomac River to Arlington National Cemetery. He said the only good Democrat was a dead Democrat. Some extra notes, quotes, news and notes from the Lobos Friday night basketball game in, To say that defense was optional would imply is was a choice. "When they shut our sawmill down, it just leaves all of that useless material, if you will, in our forests which creates more fire hazards.". The first-term state representative and former Albuquerque middle school math teacher grew up in Chihuahua and has an engineering degree. But in a recent interview in Alamogordo, Griffin was determined to keep fighting for Trump, despite the audit's problems, plus the charges he faces for his role in the Capitol attack, financial difficulties and a profound disappointment in the former president himself. In at least one case detailed in the affidavit, Griffin paid his ex-wife $350.00 from Cowboys for Trump LLC to cover his child support obligations. The motion said Couy Griffin "has. "They see that I'm willing to take a stand," he said. He also says Cowboys for Trump is a for-profit company, not a political group. One recent still summer night in this tiny city on the Nebraska prairie, more than 60 people showed up at a senior citizens center to hear attorney David Clements warn of an epidemic of purported election fraud. He takes things and extrapolates them to a place that comes completely out of thin air. The audit later fell apart, with the firm hired to analyze the results agreeing to return part of its initial payment, stipulating they had found no evidence of fraud. The couple soon found an ally in Couy Griffin, a flamboyant former Disneyland Paris rodeo cowboy who until this week was a member of the county commission in Otero, a rural New Mexico community. FILE - Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin, the founder of Cowboys for Trump, takes in the view from his ranch in Tularosa, N.M., May 12, 2021. 'Cowboys For Trump' Founder Appears To Dismiss Former - HuffPost He was a rodeo cowboy at Disneyland Paris and a pastor at the Cowboy Church in Alamogordo. Just this week, Griffins attorneys filed new motions on his behalf one demanding evidence and another claiming his charges are politically motivated. 13h Heading to the courthouse to hear the verdict! Yeah.Officer: So if you want to waste our time here.. After the officer hands him the ticket, Griffin still gets in a parting shot. In his disciplinary hearing, which Clements posted online, the university said he violated the schools covid-19 mask and vaccination policy. Weve got enough evidence to have indictments, people tried for treason and have the remedy of firing squads. emergency order from the states Supreme Court. The 249-page lawsuit alleges that Griffin can be removed as an Otero County commissioner for violating his oath of office because the 14th Amendment states that no officeholder sworn to uphold the Constitution shall have engaged in insurrection against the same, according to the suit. Still, the audit rumbles on, and could yet have widespread implications. Their county attorney, R.B. The role of creativity in resilience and community-building, Alamogordo Proud Downtown Nights Otero Arts Exhibition Opening, Late Shopping and More, Downtown stores open till 8 pm Friday student art exhibition and more, Alamogordo Proud It is All About the Fashion Spotlight Alamogordo Artisan Linda Swenson, Alamogordo Proud is All about the fashions of Alamogordo's Linda Swenson, AlamogordoTownNews.com Tularosa High School Students Excel in Competitions, AlamogordoTownNews.com Not Guilty! Cowboys for Trump cofounder Couy Griffin is confronting a trial by jury on charges that he. He means no malice on anybody, said George Seeds, outside the New Heart Cowboy Church in Alamogordo where Griffin once served as pastor. ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (KRQE) New video shows former County Commissioner Couy Griffin getting pulled over and getting into it with police officers. The political operative. New Mexico Official Couy Griffin Removed From Office for Participating The audience, which included a local minister, a bank teller and farmers in their overalls, gasped in horror or whispered wow with each new claim. His 12 th-round knockout of Ilunga . They say Griffin didnt partake in violence and was well within his free speech rights as he voiced election grievances and attempted to lead a prayer with a bullhorn. And he boasted about his participation in the January 6 storming of the Capitol. Couy Griffin Wikipedia And Age. Officer: Hello, sir.Griffin: How you doing? 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. I take the seatbelts very serious just because the amount of crashes weve both seen.Griffin: What is it? In Alamogordo, Griffins rhetoric on race has steeled the determination of opponents who want him out of office. She also worked as a podcast producer for The Economist among other outlets, and tries to meld a love of sound and storytelling with solid reporting on the community. Dont forget to wear your seatbelt. Why? he asked. In Washington, prosecutors unveiled photographs of Griffin climbing a toppled fence and another barrier to access the Capitol steps. Couy Griffin - Wikipedia