In Washington, a legal strategy that once succeeded for former President Donald Trump did not yield the same outcome for one of his followers on Monday. The Supreme Court decided not to consider the appeal of a man from New Mexico. This individual was removed from his local government position due to his involvement in the events of January 6.
Couy Griffin, who helped start “Cowboys for Trump,” faced criminal charges for his actions on January 6. These charges led to him losing his role as a county commissioner.
The legal challenge against him was initiated by citizens of New Mexico. They referred to the same section of the constitution that Trump had used in a different case. In Trump’s case, he argued that this provision should not prevent him from being included on the ballot in Colorado.
Both legal battles were centered around Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. This section states that anyone who has sworn to uphold the Constitution but then participates in an insurrection is barred from holding office.
Griffin had hoped that a favorable decision for Trump would benefit him as well.
However, when the Supreme Court made its decision on March 4 in favor of Trump, it specified that its ruling only applied to candidates for federal positions.
The court explained that while states could disqualify individuals from holding or seeking state office, they do not have the authority to apply Section 3 to federal offices, including the presidency.
As a consequence, Griffin’s appeal was effectively settled. The Supreme Court dismissed his case without providing any remarks.
A state judge had previously removed Griffin from his commissioner position in Otero County, New Mexico, in September 2022. This decision was based on the conclusion that Griffin’s actions on January 6 disqualified him from serving.
Earlier in the same year, Griffin was found guilty of unlawfully entering the Capitol grounds. However, he was found not guilty of engaging in disorderly conduct amidst the turmoil as Trump supporters tried to stop Congress from confirming Joe Biden’s election victory.
Section 3, which was introduced after the Civil War, aims to prevent anyone who has previously pledged to defend the Constitution from holding various government positions. Originally intended to stop former Confederates from returning to power, this provision has been seldom invoked.