ALBUQUERQUE — A Washington D.C. federal appeals court upheld the conviction of Couy Griffin for his participation in the Jan. 6, 2020, attack on the U.S. Capitol on Oct.22. Griffin is a disgraced former Otero County Commissioner, founder of the Cowboys for Trump mob of extremists, and a close political ally of Yvette Herrell who has a long record of espousing far-right conspiracy theories and election denial after Trump lost in 2020.
As prominent figures in the New Mexico GOP, Griffin and Herrell have been steadfast political allies and share many of the same far-right views. Herrell claimed that the Cowboys for Trump founder’s endorsement was one she was "most proud of.” One of Herrell’s first votes in Congress was against certifying the 2020 election results, and as Otero County Commissioner, Griffin refused to certify the 2022 election results of his county in an attempt to undermine faith in our elections.
Some of Griffin’s inflammatory quotes include “the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat,” or when he told New Mexicans participating in the Black Lives Matter movement that they should “go back to Africa.” After his refusal to certify Otero County’s election results, continued attempts to undermine faith in elections, and conviction for participating in Jan. 6th, Griffin has been barred from holding elected office in New Mexico ever again.
“Yvette Herrell's crony Couy Griffin’s sentence being upheld is a rebuke of his far-right views and insurrectionist activities,” Democratic Party of New Mexico Spokesperson Daniel Garcia said. “Everyday New Mexicans are not represented by radical politicians like Couy Griffin and Yvette Herrell who have a history of election lies and conspiracy theories.”
It is critical that in the 2024 election, New Mexicans elect leaders who will protect democratic institutions and work to ensure the government works for the people it represents. The contrast could not be more clear: Gabe Vasquez will fight for everyday New Mexicans of New Mexico’s Second Congressional while Yvette Herrell will continue to be beholden to the most radical factions of the national MAGA GOP.
