(NewsGlobal.com)- An independent group is working hard to try to get a Republican supporter of former President Donald Trump removed from office in a New Mexico.
A lawsuit was filed in Santa Fe federal district court earlier this week by a few law firms and the watchdog group known as CREW — or the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. The suit is seeking to remove Couy Griffin, who serves as the county commission in Otera County, New Mexico, from his position.
CREW claims that Griffin, who is the founder of the “Cowboys for Trump” group, should be removed from office because of his role in the riot at the U.S. Capitol building on January 6, 2021.
Griffin was recently found guilty in court of entering the Capitol building illegally that day. CREW said that due to his actions, Griffin violated the 14th Amendment’s third section, which bans any elected official from engaging in an insurrection or rebellion while holding office.
Noah Bookbinder, the president of the watchdog group, said any elected official who violates their oath of office in this way “must be barred from public office.”
In a statement, he continued:
“Couy Griffin has used his public platform to spread the false narrative that the election was stolen from Donald Trump and to defend the attack on our Capitol. His actions on January 6th were part of and contributed to an insurrection, and his tenure in government continues to be a threat to our democracy.”
Griffin was found guilty of a misdemeanor charge of illegally entering or remaining in a restricted ground in U.S. District Court recently. The Associated Press reported that the case was rather short. He was also acquitted of another charge of disorderly conduct.
He has served in this position in Otero County since back in 2019. That year, he also founded his Cowboys for Trump group.
In his position as president of that group, Griffin participated in many rallies that sought to dispute the 2020 presidential election results, according to the lawsuit. It also said that Griffin once said that “the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat.”
CREW included pictures in their lawsuit that show Griffin at the “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6. He was wearing a cowboy hat and a suit while there. One photo apparently shows him with a bullhorn in his hand as he speaks to a large crowd before saying a prayer.
The lawsuit claims that Griffin said at the time:
“We’re not going anywhere. We’re not gonna take no for an answer. We’re not going to get our election stolen from us from China. So, thisis an America that’s had enough right here … Anything to get our country back.”
CREW is also using videos the group uploaded to Facebook just one day after the insurrection. In some of those videos, Griffin said the rally was the “most historic and amazing thing that I have ever seen … You’re gonna see a whole ‘nother revolution.”
