The founder of Cowboys for Trump was arrested on Sunday for his role in the United States Capitol riot earlier this month.
Couy Griffin, who serves as the county commissioner in his home state of New Mexico, appeared in several videos showing his presence on Capitol Hill on January 6 and posted about events on social media. According to the authorities, these public posts proved that he was on Capitol steps after the crowd breached security fences, and he was accused of intentionally entering or staying in any restricted building or land without legal authority.
Griffin also posted a video on the Cowboys for Trump Facebook page in which he said there could be more violence on the Capitol if he and other Trump supporters returned, according to officials.
“You know, and if we do, then it will be a sad day, because there will be blood dripping from that building,” he said in the now deleted video. “But at the end of the day, you can mark my word, we will plant our flag on the table of Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer and Donald J. Trump if it comes down to that.”
FBI agents interviewed Griffin after the turmoil and asked about his plans to return to DC for President-elect Joe Biden to take office. According to court documents, Griffin told them that he hoped there would be no violence, but added that there was “no option that is off the table for the sake of freedom”.
Griffin also exposed his actions on Capitol during a county council meeting on January 14 in Otero, New Mexico. He told the council that he had tried to lead the crowd in prayer and ended up doing so “where the president is installed,” according to officials. The indictment notes that Griffin’s description of where he was during the riot was consistent with videos of the incident – and that location should be restricted to the public.
In his comments at the board meeting, Griffin said he was planning to return to DC with a rifle and revolver. He ended up being arrested in DC on Sunday, according to the Justice Department.
“And I will embrace my Second Amendment, I will maintain my right to bear arms, my vehicle is an extension of my home with respect to constitutional law and I have the right to have these firearms in my car,” he told the council. county on January 14.
According to the Alamogordo Daily News, Griffin also attended that county meeting without a face mask, despite being mandatory.
Cowboys for Trump has organized several rallies and horseback riding in support of the president in recent years. Griffin has met Trump in person three times, the group’s website said.