John,

This is huge: a judge in New Mexico just ruled that Otero County Commissioner and Cowboys for Trump founder Couy Griffin, who participated in the insurrection on January 6th, must be removed from office immediately under the Disqualification Clause in Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. This is the first successful use of the Disqualification Clause in more than 100 years.

That means Griffin must be removed from his current office and cannot hold future state or federal office, since he violated his oath to uphold the Constitution by participating in the insurrection and attack on the Capitol. It also means that a judge has legally affirmed that the attack on the Capitol was, in fact, an insurrection—the first time that has happened.

CREW brought this case along with several New Mexico and DC based law firms who served as co-counsel on behalf of three New Mexico residents.

This victory is important not just because it removes an insurrectionist from office, but because it provides a clear precedent for using the 14th Amendment’s Disqualification Clause in modern times. Any official who took an oath to the Constitution and then participated in the January 6 insurrection or was in league with the insurrectionists must be held accountable, and Griffin is only the first to see these consequences for his actions.

While much of the work of securing accountability for January 6th is in the hands of the Department of Justice and Congress, we all have a part to play. At CREW, we’re proud to have brought this case on behalf of our clients, because we know that our democracy will not survive if we don’t all do whatever it takes to protect it.

Thank you,


Noah Bookbinder
President, CREW

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