Griffin founded the support group for President Trump that held horseback parades across the country. Any person who makes statements like these does not have any place in Otero County Politics, no less an elected office. It was unclear how soon the state Supreme Court will decide whether to intervene. Couy Griffin recall petition short signatures as deadline approaches District Court Judge Manuel Arrieta on Thursday, April 8, 2021, ruled in favor of a group of recall petitioners who say that Griffin had repeatedly abused his authority and should be subject to a recall election this year. A full contingent of signatures would have allowed the recall question to be placed a special election ballot. After Griffin was arrested, District 1 Commissioner Gerald Matherly (R) and District 3 Commissioner Vickie Marquardt (R) called for his resignation, as did New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas (D). Griffin deniedthe allegations claiming they were"frivolous and devoid of merit," court records state. Enjoying our stories? Griffin said he would not resign. "We can always do better, and I hope to do better moving forward. "We are slightly behind the pace of signatures required to meet our goal and we are expanding our advertising and collection methods.". Sanchez presented the allegations to Arrieta even after Griffin left the hearing. "The remaining balance will be donated to a local non-partisan, non-profit in accordance with what the committee decided prior to fundraising," a news release from the Committee read. A publicly appointed defense attorney is representing Griffin in the Jan. 6 case, and Griffin says he is represented by Powell free of charge in his lawsuit against the New Mexico secretary of state. I believe the people in my district still believe in Conservative values and individual rights and freedoms and I believe that if this recall comes to vote, thatpoint will be proved.". Griffin, who founded the organization Cowboys for Trump, was arrested in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 17, for his alleged role in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. (AP Photo/Morgan Lee, File), Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. Ballotpedia is the digital encyclopedia of American politics and elections. The recall complaint listed five allegations against Griffin that are also listed on the petition. Griffin was accused of trespassing onto the west steps of the Capitol Building Jan. 6. FILE - In this Friday, Jan. 31, 2020 file photo, Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin speaks in Santa Fe, N.M., during a gun rights rally. Griffin was arrested in Washington after vowing to take his guns to the inauguration of President Joe Biden, and has pleaded not guilty to misdemeanor criminal charges in connection with the siege on the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, where he appeared on an outdoor terrace and attempted to lead the crowd in prayer. On the 7th of January, after being part of the crowd that attacked the US Capitol grounds on 6 January (and live streaming from it), he made a vide Supreme Court allows recall effort against Trump booster "It is now in their hands.". Supreme Court allows recall effort against Trump booster The petition alleges that Griffin neglected and misused his position as a county commissioner while skipping public meetings and. 2023 www.alamogordonews.com. The Committee to Recall Couy Griffin, Otero County District 2 Commissioner, NEEDS YOUR HELP!! The case cannot be reheard and the "order serves as the Court's mandate returning jurisdiction to the district court,"New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts spokesman Barry Massey said. (Griffin) chose not to take it. Those grounds arethat Griffin violated the Campaign Reporting Act, Governmental Conduct Act and that he allegedly committed embezzlement, racketeering, money laundering and making or permitting a false voucher for public funds. On Monday, June 28, the New Mexico Supreme Court affirmedthe Second Judicial District Court determination that probable cause existed in the case to recall Griffin. petition to recall Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin, Griffin recall to begin collecting signatures on Mescalero Reservation, banishment from the Mescalero Apache Reservation, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. [1] Recall supporters filed paperwork on March 11, 2021. Griffin denies allegations that he knowingly entering barricaded areas of the Capitol grounds with the intent of disrupting government as Congress considered the 2020 Electoral College results, though he openly ascribes to unsubstantiated claims of fraud in the 2020 election. Griffin returned the funds to Otero County, as officials questioned the legality of the voucher and payment. I mean, how much bigger representation can you bring to Otero County? Griffin said. Their actions should represent the best interest of their constituents and spend tax payer money responsibly," the Committee statement read. "We are grateful for this opportunity to provide the registered votersof Otero County District 2 the chance to decide if Commissioner Griffin is still the person they want to continue to represent them on the county commission as well as nationwide," Committee to Recall Couy Griffin spokesman Paul Sanchez said. The recall is one of several legal battles which Griffin finds himself in, including a federal trespassing charge for which he was arrested on Jan. 18. Griffin, who co-founded political advocacy group Cowboys for Trump in March 2019 to promote the agenda of then-candidate Donald Trump, is alleged to have used his office as county commissioner to further his organization's work. Those voters in my district are constitutional conservatives. You know, they believe in individual freedoms and individual liberties. Prior to Griffin's leaving the hearing, Arrieta told him that the Otero County Commission would have a quorum present without Griffin and that this hearing may be more important at this time. ? A state district court judge says an effort can move ahead to try and recall Griffin, the Cowboys for Trump founder from his seat as an Otero County commissioner on accusations of using his public office for personal gain. Griffin, who founded the organization Cowboys for Trump, was arrested in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 17, for his alleged role in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Countless registered voters from the other Otero County districts were turned away from signing since only District 2 signatures counted for the recall effort. 1 of 2. "On the decision, I am obviously very pleased," Sanchez said. Probable cause found in Couy Griffin recall case - Alamogordo Daily News All rights reserved. The recall effort has about 30 days inthe 90-day window to gather the required signatures. Im glad that I went on that day. FILE - In this May 13, 2021, file photo, Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin presides at a public meeting in Alamogordo, N.M., in a shirt with a "C4T" logo that stands for Cowboys for Trump. He was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, according to the Alamogordo Daily News. Trump cowboy plots political future after Capitol breach - NBC News I will not be intimidated, I will not be threatened, and I sure as Hell wont back down!! I believe I still have much support in my district. Retired military veteran Paul Sanchez and other members of the Committee to Recall Couy Griffin are accusing Griffin of using his elected county position for personal gain. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin has filed an appeal with the state Supreme Court as he seeks to fend off an effort to recall him from office as a county commissioner in southern New Mexico. They say Griffin skipped commission meetings and used his county office space to solicit contributions to Cowboys for Trump that covered his personal expenses. Griffin formed Cowboys for Trump in 2019 with a group of rodeo acquaintances, vowing to hold horseback-riding parades nationwide in support of Trump. Trump cowboy Couy Griffin seeks political comeback after riot All rights reserved. The Committee to Recall Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffinreminded residentsthat the change.orgpetitioncirculating is not a legal document and cannot be used to trigger a recall election. Several of the allegations listed in the recall petition are among the things for which Griffin is being investigated by the New Mexico Attorney General's Office. This story has been updated with a statement from Couy Griffin and more information about the recall process. The Committee to Recall Couy Griffin, Otero County District 2 Commissioner, NEEDS YOUR HELP!! The failed recall petition accused Griffin of failing to attend commission meetings, using his elected position for personal gain in promoting a support group for former President Donald Trump, improper travel vouchers and violating state restrictions on gifts to public officials. All rights reserved. Just a small donation to get the most dangerous County Commissioner we've EVER had removed from office! Griffin has called those allegations frivolous, baseless and politically motivated. Cowboys for Trump Founder Offered Plea Deal in Capitol Riot Case - Newsweek Griffinrequested for the case to be dismissed and if it was not dismissed then he filed a demand for a jury trial in the case. "The Committee to Recall Couy Griffin has received the official petition to Recall Otero County District 2 CommissionerCouy Griffin today (July 1)," Committee to Recall Couy Griffin today,"spokesman Paul Sanchez said. Arrietaexplained that this case does not warrant a jury trial since the April 8 hearing was most likely to be the only hearing in the case and that a verdict was not to be administered and if a recall petition is successful and a recall election imminent, then the voters of Otero County's District 2 would be the jury. 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. The effort to recall Otero County District 2 Commissioner Couy Griffin failed by 345 signatures. A successful recall election would have allowed Democratic Gov. Separately, Griffin is confronting federal charges in connection with the U.S. Capitol siege on Jan. 6, where he appeared on an outdoor terrace and attempted to lead a prayer. "This is a historic opportunity for the people of District 2 and we look forward to the next step in this process.". They say Griffin used his office to solicit contributions to Cowboys for Trump that covered his personal expenses. Jessica Onsurez can be reached at jonsurez@gannett.com, @JussGREAT on Twitter at by phone at 575-628-5531.