JAN. 6 ATTACK
An Insurrectionist Finally Gets Ousted from Office
Legal strategy by citizen groups still may not block Trump
ANew Mexico judge appointed by President Donald Trump ruled Sept. 7 that Couy Griffin, a county commissioner and co-founder of Cowboys for Trump, was no longer qualified to hold public office.
The decision marks the first time since 1869 that a court has disqualified a public official under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits anyone from holding federal or state office who took an oath to support the Constitution and then “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” or gave “aid or comfort” to insurrectionists.
It is also the first time any court has ruled that the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol was indeed an insurrection, according to Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, a nonpartisan watchdog group that represented New Mexico residents in the case.
This ruling has encouraged citizen groups who had found little success in holding officials accountable for Jan. 6 involvements. Some activists and lawmakers also hope it could make it easier to prevent Trump from running for president again.
Griffin, known for violent political rhetoric, brought a videographer with him to Washington. He was recorded…
