Santa Fe, New Mexico – A New Mexico County official and founder of the Cowboys for Trump group, who vowed to return to Washington later last week’s riots at the U.S. Capitol to place a flag on the desk of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was arrested Sunday by the FBI.
Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin was arrested on charges of illegally entering the United States Capitol.
According to court documents, Griffin told investigators he was “trapped” by the crowd, who made his way through the barricades and entered the restricted area of the U.S. Capitol, but said he did not enter the building and instead stayed in the United States. Stairs of the Capitol.
A video posted on Griffin’s personal Facebook page shows Griffin in the restricted areas, according to the affidavit.
Griffin did not immediately respond to phone calls or text messages from The Associated Press seeking comment.
On Thursday, Griffin said he planned to travel with firearms to Washington, DC, for Inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
“I will be there on January 20 … and I will take a stand for our country and for our freedoms,” Griffin said during a meeting of the Otero County Board of Commissioners.
“I’m leaving tonight or tomorrow. I have a .357 Henry Big Boy rifle lever action I have in the trunk of my car and I have a .357 single-action revolver, the Colt Ruger Cowboy I’ll have under the front seat in the my right side and I will accept my second amendment.
“I will retain my right to bear arms. My vehicle is an extension of my home as far as constitutional law is concerned, and I have a right to have these firearms in my car,” he said.
The ViacomCBS program “Inside Edition” showed Griffin on the steps of the Capitol during the protest. “We’re not going anywhere,” he said. “We will not take an answer for no. They will not make us steal China’s elections.”
When asked about the comments he made on Facebook that there will be “blood running out” at the Capitol if there are more demonstrations, and if he was afraid more people might die, Griffin replied, “I’m more afraid of losing the freedom that I am nothing “.
At another time, Griffin also says, “We won’t allow it. There will never be a Biden presidency.”