Couy Griffin recall, Otero County, New Mexico (2021)

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Otero County Commission recall
Officeholders
Couy Griffin
Recall status
Did not go to a vote
See also
Recall overview Political recall efforts, 2021 Recalls in New Mexico New Mexico recall laws County commission recalls Recall reports

An effort to recall Couy Griffin (R) from his position as the District 2 representative on the Otero County Commission in New Mexico did not go to a vote in 2021. Recall supporters did not collect enough signatures by the deadline on September 28, 2021.

Recall supporters filed paperwork on March 11, 2021. District Court Judge Manuel Arrieta ruled on April 8, 2021, that the recall effort could move forward. Griffin appealed that decision to the New Mexico Supreme Court on April 19, 2021. The New Mexico Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's ruling on June 28, 2021, allowing the recall effort to move forward. Recall supporters would have had to collect 1,574 signatures from registered voters in District 2 in 90 days to get the recall on the ballot.

Recall supporters said Griffin had used the office for personal gain. Griffin said the allegations against him were baseless and politically motivated.

Griffin was elected to the three-member Otero County Commission in 2018, defeating Democratic candidate Christopher S. Jones with 65% of the vote.

Recall supporters

Recall supporters listed five reasons for recall in their request to the Twelfth District Court, including:

1. Failing to be present at county commission meetings
2. Being unable to perform his duties within his district due to being banned from the sovereign nation and lands of the Mescalero Apache Tribe
3. Filming a video inside the County Commission Administration building to solicit funds for a political organization
4. Filing a travel voucher with the county to pay for events that did not relate to his duties as a county commissioner
5. Soliciting and receiving a donation from a restricted donor

Recall opponents

At the recall hearing, Griffin called the recall supporters' allegations "frivolous, baseless and politically motivated," according to the Associated Press.

Griffin also said the recall hearing proceedings were tilted against him as Judge Manuel Arrieta had been appointed by a Democratic governor. “I feel like I was just really railroaded," Griffin said.

Background

Griffin, who founded the organization Cowboys for Trump, was arrested in Washington, D.C., on January 17, 2021, for his alleged role in the breach of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. He was charged with "knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority," according to the Alamogordo Daily News. Griffin was released from federal prison on February 5, 2021.

After Griffin was arrested, District 1 Commissioner Gerald Matherly (R) and District 3 Commissioner Vickie Marquardt (R) called for his resignation. In a statement released on January 19, 2021, the two commissioners said, "Couy Griffin from his first day as an Otero County Commissioner had devoted himself to promoting Cowboys for Trump for Trump organization rather than being a county commissioner who serves the citizens of Otero County who elected him."

New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas (D) also called for Griffin's resignation in a letter published on January 16, 2021. Griffin said he would not resign.

At a county commission meeting on February 11, 2021, Griffin said he was accused of crimes but not convicted. "I just want those that have already come to the conclusion that I'm guilty, I just again ask you to put the brakes on a little bit and let the legal process take place," Griffin said.

“

It's one thing to be charged, it's another thing to be proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. In regards to my position here in Otero County, it is a position that has been a great honor to date and I believe will continue to be a great honor moving into the future. That is to prayerfully hold the line on a constitutional side, to fight for individual rights, individual liberties and individual freedoms which I believe that by God's grace I have been able to do today.

”

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing recall in New Mexico

New Mexico allows recalls at the county level for "malfeasance or misfeasance in office or violation of the oath of office by the official concerned." Those actions must have occurred during the official's current term of office in order for a recall effort to be approved to circulate petitions.

Supporters of the recall against Griffin filed paperwork with the New Mexico Twelfth Judicial District Court on March 11, 2021, requesting a hearing to determine if their recall petition could be circulated. The hearing was held on April 8, 2021. At the hearing, both recall supporters and Griffin were able to present evidence and witnesses. District Court Judge Manuel Arrieta ruled in favor of the recall effort. Griffin appealed that decision to the New Mexico Supreme Court on April 19, 2021. The New Mexico Supreme Court affirmed the lower court's ruling on June 28, 2021, allowing the recall effort to move forward.

Recall supporters started circulating petitions on July 1, 2021, and had 90 days to collect signatures equal to 33.3% of voters who cast ballots in Griffin's most recent election, a total of 1,574 signatures. They did not collect enough signatures by the deadline.

See also

• Otero County, New Mexico
• Recall campaigns in New Mexico
• Political recall efforts, 2021
• County commission recalls

External links

• Search Google News for this topic
• Otero County Commission
• Otero County Clerk
• New Mexico Twelfth District Court
• Recall Couy Griffin Facebook page

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