COMMUNITY

Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin questions Capitol riot deaths during CNN interview

Nicole Maxwell
Alamogordo Daily News

District 2 Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin, 47 of Tularosa, was interviewed for a CNN documentary about the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, during which he questioned reports that two people were killed in the riot. 

Griffin said during the interview that he was not sure if Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick and protester Ashli Babbitt were dead, despite multiple reports confirming their deaths. 

Sicknick died on Jan. 7 of a stroke he suffered after being sprayed with unknown chemical agent during the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.

Babbitt was shot in the shoulder when she tried to climb through a barricade near the House of Representatives chambers. Babbitt later died of the injury.

More on Brian Sicknick:2 Capitol riot suspects charged in officer Sicknick assault

The so-far unnamed Capitol Police officer who allegedly shot Babbitt was not charged in her death.

Babbitt was one of five people who died Jan. 6. More than 400 were charged in the riot.

Griffin was arrested on Jan. 18 on a charge of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority relating to his participation in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. Griffin did not enter the U.S. Capitol building.

"I’m not even so sure that Officer Sicknick’s even dead. I’m serious," Griffin said during the interview. "That’s, that’s how – and I hate to be so crazy conspiracy-minded. I’m not even so sure Ashli Babbitt is dead."

Jan. 6 fatalities:Cause of death released for 4 of 5 people at Capitol riot – but not Officer Brian Sicknick

Couy Griffin is 'brainwashed'

Drew Griffin, the CNN reporter who interviewed Griffin as well as many others for the documentary "Assault on Democracy: The Roots of Trump's Insurrection," told Anderson Cooper that Couy “is so far off the rails – I would dare to use the loaded term – he is brainwashed."

"He is out there. He still believes this stuff, and others like him – I don’t believe Couy would be dangerous – but others like him can and will be dangerous," Drew Griffin said. 

More:Couy Griffin seeks second act in politics after Capitol breach

Couy Griffin serves as Otero County Commission Vice-Chairman. He is also co-founder and spokesman for the political action committee Cowboys for Trump.

Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin

The Alamogordo Daily News asked Otero County Chairman Gerald Matherly for comment. He did not offer comment by the time of publication. 

District 3 Otero County Commissioner Vickie Marquardt declined to comment and said she had not seen the documentary.

Griffin's legal matters

Couy Griffin is involved in several court cases including the federal trespassing case and an appeal to the recall the case against him.

Griffin through his attorney requested an oral hearing on his second motion to dismiss the charges. The judge will hear the amended motion to dismiss, as the first motion was denied as moot.

A screengrab purported to show Couy Griffin climbing over metal barricades on January 6, 2021 that was taken from a video taken by Griffin's videographer Matt Struck, according to court documents.

The screengrab is from the U.S. Government's response to Griffin's motion to dismiss Griffin's federal trespassing case.

Federal Judge Trevor N. McFadden has set the oral hearing to be held at the same time as a status conference in the case, 10 a.m. on June 30.

Griffin is also under investigation by the New Mexico Attorney General's Office on grounds that he violated the Campaign Reporting Act, Governmental Conduct Act and that he allegedly committed embezzlement, racketeering, money laundering and making or permitting a false voucher for public funds.

Despite his legal woes, Griffin said he considered either a run for governor or a run for Catron County Sheriff. Griffin is from Reserve in Catron County.

Nicole Maxwell can be contacted by email at nmaxwell@alamogordonews.com, by phone at 575-415-6605 or on Twitter at @nicmaxreporter.