Jeenah Moon/Getty Images
- ‘Cowboys for Trump’ founder and Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin demands release from federal custody.
- He was arrested related to storming the Capitol and that day posted videos threatening lawmakers.
- In one video, Griffin claimed rioters would return on January 20, and “blood will run out of the building.”
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
“Cowboys for Trump” founder and Otero County Commissioner Couy Griffin is asking to be released from isolation in federal custody. He was placed in isolation after refusing both a COVID-19 test and to show up to his first hearing, according to court documents.
Last week, Griffin was arrested by US Capitol Police in Washington, DC, and charged with “knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority” and “intent to impede or disrupt the orderly conduct of Government business.”
According to documents, Griffin’s lawyer filed a motion for his client’s release, saying that he was struggling in isolation. In response, the judge said that “simply taking a COVID-19 test, something hundreds of millions of people have safely done across the world, will allow the defendant to exit isolation.”
The judge also added that Griffin must show up to a hearing on February 1 or remain in detention and that he could be held in contempt.
According to KOB4, Griffin posted a series of videos of himself in DC on January 6. In one video, Griffin called for more rioting, while in another he claimed rioters would return on January 20 and said “blood will run out of the building.”
He also claimed he wanted to plant a flag on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's desk.
Prior to his arrest, Griffin attended an Otero County Commission meeting and stated his intention to show up to DC on inauguration day bearing arms.
According to court documents, federal investigators said Griffin was a danger to the community and called for him to be held without bond. "The defendant has no established profession, whether as cowboy, cowboy actor, restaurateur, or otherwise," filing charges said.
In May, Griffin spoke at an event where he said, "the only good Democrat is a dead Democrat." Later in the speech he claimed the quote was a metaphor.
At the time, Donald Trump retweeted the video and said, "Thank you Cowboys. See you in New Mexico!"
In January, Donald Trump and Cowboys for Trump's Twitter accounts were suspended.