Cowboys For Trump founder arrested after Capitol riot

The Cowboys for Trump founder was arrested Sunday for his role in the U.S. Capitol riot earlier this month.

Couy Griffin, who is a county commissioner in his home state of New Mexico, appeared in several videos showing his presence on Capitol Hill on Jan.6 and posted information about the events on social media. According to authorities, these public displays proved that he was on the steps of the Capitol following the violation of security fences by the crowd, and he was accused of knowingly entering or remaining in a building or a restricted land without legal authorization.

Griffin also posted a video on the Cowboys for Trump Facebook page in which he said there could be more violence on Capitol Hill if he and other Trump supporters returned, officials said.

“You know, and if we do, then it’s going to be a sad day because there’s going to be blood spilling out of this building,” he said in the now deleted video. “But at the end of the day you keep my word, we’ll be planting our flag on the desks of Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer and Donald J. Trump if it comes down to that.”

FBI agents then interviewed Griffin after the riot and asked him about his plans to return to DC for the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. According to court documents, Griffin told them he hoped there was no violence, but added that there was “no option that is not on the table for freedom.”

Griffin also spoke about his actions on Capitol Hill during a January 14 county council meeting in Otero, New Mexico. He told the council he tried to lead the crowd in prayer and ultimately did so “where the president is inaugurated,” authorities said. The indictment document notes that Griffin’s description of where he was during the riot was consistent with videos of the incident – and that location was meant to be limited to the public.

In his remarks at the council meeting, Griffin said he planned to return to Washington with a rifle and a revolver. He was finally arrested Sunday in Washington, according to the Department of Justice.

“And I will accept my Second Amendment, I will keep my right to bear arms, my vehicle is an extension of my house under constitutional law, and I have the right to have these guns in my car.” , he told the county council on January 14.

Griffin also appeared at this county meeting without a face mask, despite being required to do so, according to the Alamogordo Daily News.

Cowboys for Trump has held various rallies and horseback rides to support the president in recent years. Griffin has met Trump personally three times, the group’s website said.