Griffin may miss commission meeting

It’s not clear whether Otero County Commission Vice Chairman Couy Griffin, who is incarcerated at a federal facility following his arrest Jan. 17, will appear for the next commission meeting Feb. 11.

Griffin, 47, is set for a detention hearing on Feb. 1.

“As for the next meeting, if Commissioner Griffin is not present, we will still have a quorum and have a meeting,” Otero County Manager Pam Heltner said by email Jan. 22. “I can’t speak for others at the county but I have not heard from him.”

Griffin was arrested on a charge of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority related to the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C.

The three-person Otero County Commission requires two commissioners present to make a quorum.

The other two commissioners, Chairman Gerald Matherly and Vickie Marquardt, issued a statement demanding Griffin resign his position on the commission following his arrest.