A New Mexico County official and founder of the Cowboys for Trump group who had vowed to return to Washington after last week’s riots at the U.S. Capitol to place a flag on the table of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , was arrested Sunday by the FBI.
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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 on the US Capitol Stairs.
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 or text messages seeking comment.
On Thursday, Griffin said he planned to travel with firearms to Washington, DC, for Biden’s takeover.
FBI special agents said Griffin told them he “hopes a change of leadership can be achieved” without firing a single shot, “but noted that” there was no option to stay out of the table in the name of freedom “”, according to the affidavit.
“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 will go out tonight or tomorrow. I have a .357 Henry Big Boy rifle lever action that I have in the trunk of my car and I have a .357 single-action revolver, the Colt Ruger Cowboy that I will have under my front seat my right side and adopt my second amendment, ”he said.
On Sunday, New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas called for Griffin’s resignation via Twitter.
“I demand that Couy Griffin resign immediately from the Otero County Commission or that my office request his removal,” Balderas said.
Associated Press journalist Morgan Lee contributed to this report.