The founder of the Cowboys for Trump group and a New Mexico county commissioner were arrested on Sunday for their alleged role in the Capitol riot earlier this month.
Couy Griffin confirmed in an interview with FBI agents that he was present in the riot, according to a federal statement. Griffin said in a video posted on the Cowboys for Trump Facebook page that he “climbed on top of the capitol building and … had a front row seat,” says the statement.
In the same video now excluded, he allegedly said, “You mean it was a crowd? Do you mean it was violence? No sir. No, Madam. No, we could have a 2nd Amendment rally in the same stages that we had at that rally yesterday. You know, and if we do, then it will be a sad day, because there will be blood running from that building. But at the end of the day, you can mark my word, let’s plant our flag on the table Nancy Pelosi
Nancy PelosiMissouri woman seen with Pelosi sign accused of connection to riots on Capitol Hill Boebert’s communications director resigns amid riots on Capitol Hill: report Revising the power of forgiveness – let the president and Congress have a voice MORE and Chuck Schumer
Chuck SchumerBiden and the new Congress must protect Americans from public service closings in ‘Almost Paradise, West Virginia’ – Joe Manchin and Democrats in the 50-50 Senate seeking to accelerate the Senate impeachment trial MORE and Donald J. Trump if it comes down to that. “
Prosecutors said Griffin told FBI agents on January 11 that he traveled to the nation’s capital with Matt Struck, who “directs the media” for the Cowboys for Trump organization. Griffin said he hoped the US Capitol demonstration would be peaceful and that he was “caught” when a crowd entered the Capitol building.
Griffin said that neither he nor Struck actually entered the Capitol building, instead they remained on the building’s steps. He added that he left the United States Capitol building “peacefully” and that “the police never asked him to leave the area”.
A federal official said Griffin’s placement, as documented in several videos shared on Facebook, was “well within the restricted area” of the Capitol building, according to the deposition.
The founder of Cowboys for Trump was accused on Sunday of intentionally entering or staying in any restricted building or land without legal authority. He was arrested in Washington, DC
Griffin also told federal officials that he planned to travel to Washington, DC again for a rally on January 20, 2021. He told FBI special agents that “he hopes that a change in leadership can be carried out” without a single shot being fired. ‘but noted that there was’ no option that was off the table because of freedom’ ”, according to the statement.
Griffin also addressed his actions during the rebellion during a board meeting in Otero County, NM on Jan. 14, according to the FBI. He said he led a prayer group “outside the Capitol, but where the president is installed.”
At the board meeting, Griffin said he intended to take weapons to Washington DC on January 20 to protest the president-elect Joe Biden
Joe BidenMissouri wife seen with Pelosi sign accused of connection to Capitol riots. Facebook temporarily bans ads for weapon accessories after the riots at Capitol Sasse, in a fiery article, says QAnon is destroying GOP MOREof the inauguration, including rifle and revolver.
The New Mexico man made headlines after President Trump
Donald TrumpFacebook temporarily bans ads for weapon accessories after the riots at Sasse Capitol, in a burning opinion article, says QAnon is destroying GOP Section 230 worked on after the insurrection, but not before: How to regulate social media MORE shared a video in May 2020 with Griffin at a rally saying he “got to the point where I came to the conclusion that the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat”.
“I say the reason the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat – I’m saying it politically speaking and I’m saying it because we need to have majorities in the House and Senate,” he added later. “It is the only way we are going to put a brake on an out-of-control governor. “