Judge bars Cowboys for Trump boss from visits with son
Says father refuses to obey health orders, minor child put ‘at risk’
The leader of the New Mexico group Cowboys for Trump has been barred from in-person visits with his son following social media posts that have generated threats and for refusing to abide by COVID-19 mask requirements, a state district judge ruled.
District Judge Mary Rosner ruled last month that Couy Griffin can see his son only on Facetime calls after he ignored orders to remove social media photos of his son at Cowboys for Trump events. The judge said Griffin also has repeatedly defied health orders to put a mask on his son at public events and has openly said he will continue to do so.
Instead, Griffin has participated in “manipulation” in a custody dispute by asking his son to “pray that his mother do the right thing,” Rosner wrote.
“Mr. Griffin’s actions have been selfish and place the minor child at risk,” in addition to his ex-wife’s unborn child, Rosner said.
The ruling comes after lawyers for Griffin’s exwife, Kourtnie, filed an emergency motion in May to modify their custody and visitation agreement. The motion said Couy Griffin “has publicly expressed views and opinions which have incited threats of violence” to his ex-wife and son.
Kourtnie Griffin, an Iraqi war veteran, understands “passions for God and country,” and believes her ex-husband has a right to express his views, her lawyers said. But she “did not take her minor child to war with her” as Couy Griffin is doing by taking their son to President Donald Trump campaign events during a pandemic, the attorneys said.
Griffin told the Associated Press he’s had to make sacrifices for his beliefs and didn’t think it was fair that the court will keep his son away from him.
Last week, Griffin faced criticism after he posted a Facebook live video where he said some Black NFL players should “go back to Africa” if they wanted to stand for “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” — traditionally known as the Black national anthem — as a gesture of solidarity against racial injustice.
Griffin also offered to give people of color what he called a “101” lesson on racial identity and said anyone who does not identify as “American” first or opposes the Second Amendment right to bear arms should leave the U.S. or “go home.”
Griffin also said the reelection campaign for Trump would distance itself from Cowboys for Trump after Griffin posted the video.