Judge bars Otero County commissioner who leads ‘Cowboys for Trump’ from son over posts, masks

OTERO COUNTY, New Mexico — A state district judge has barred the leader of the New Mexico group Cowboys for Trump from seeing his son over social media posts and for refusing to abide by Covid-19 mask requirements.

District Judge Mary Rosner ruled last month that Couy Griffin can only see his son on Facetime calls after ignoring orders to remove social media photos of his son at Cowboys for Trump events. The judge said Griffin also has defied health orders to put a mask on his son at public events and has openly said he will continue to do so.

The ruling comes after lawyers for Griffin’s ex-wife, 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.

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.

Griffin also said the reelection campaign for President Donald Trump is distancing itself from the group after Griffin posted a video saying some Black athletes should “go back to Africa.”

Democrats called the remarks racists.