SANTA FE, NM (AP) – A New Mexico provincial official and founder of the Cowboys group for Trump, who promised to return to Washington after the riot at the U.S. Capitol last week to raise a flag on the desk of the House Nancy Pelosi was arrested Sunday. by the FBI.
Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin has been arrested on charges of unlawfully entering the U.S. Capitol.
According to court documents, Griffin told investigators he was “trapped” in the crowd, which pushed through the barricades and entered the restricted area of the U.S. Capitol, but he said he did not enter the building and rather on the American Capitol staircase.
A video posted on Griffin’s personal Facebook page shows Griffin in the restricted areas, according to the statement.
Griffin did not immediately respond to phone calls or text messages to comment.
Griffin said Thursday he plans to travel to Washington, DC with firearms for Biden’s inauguration.
“I will be there on January 20 … and I will take a stand for our country and for our freedoms,” Griffin said during a meeting of the Otero County Board of Commissioners.
‘I’m leaving tonight or tomorrow. I have a .357 Henry Big Boy rifle lever action that I have in the trunk of my car, and I have a .357 single revolver, the Colt Ruger Vaquero that I will have under the front seat. my right and I will accept my second amendment, ”he said.
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Associated Press journalist Morgan Lee contributed to this report.