Santa Fe, New Mexico – A New Mexico County official and founder of the Cowboys for Trump group, who pledged to return to Washington afterward last week’s riot at the Capitol to place a flag on the desk of house speaker Nancy Pelosi, was arrested by the FBI on Sunday.
Couy Griffin, commissioner of Otero County, was arrested on charges of illegally entering the Capitol.
According to court documents, Griffin told investigators he was “ entangled ” in the crowd, making his way through the barricades and entering the restricted area of the Capitol, but said he did not enter the building and instead entered the U.S. Remained. Capitol stairs.
A video posted to 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 from The Associated Press asking for comment.
On Thursday, Griffin said he planned to travel to Washington, DC with firearms Inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.
“I will be there on January 20 … and I will take a stand for our country and for our freedoms,” Griffin said at a meeting of the Otero County Board of Commissioners.
‘I’m leaving tonight or tomorrow. I have a .357 Henry Big Boy rifle handle that I have in the trunk of my car and I have a .357 single action revolver called the Colt Ruger. Vaquero I will have under the front seat on my right and I will embrace my second amendment.
“I will retain my right to bear arms. My vehicle is an extension of my home with respect to the Constitution, and I have the right to have those firearms in my car,” he said.
The ViacomCBS program “Inside Edition” showed Griffin on the steps of the Capitol during the protest. “We’re not going anywhere,” he said. ‘We are not going to think no. We will not take our election from China. ‘
When asked about comments he made on Facebook that “ blood will flow from the Capitol if there are more demonstrations, and if he was afraid more people would die, ” Griffin replied, “ I’m more afraid of my to lose freedom. than I am anything. ”
On another point, Griffin also says, “We’re not going to allow it. There will never be a Biden presidency.”