"Supreme Court Denies Appeal of New Mexico Official Banned for Jan. 6 Insurrection"
The Supreme Court rejected an appeal from former New Mexico county commissioner Couy Griffin, who was banned from office due to his involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Griffin, a cowboy pastor and Trump supporter, was the only elected official to be disqualified in connection with the attack. The ruling could set a precedent for holding other state and local officials accountable for their roles in the insurrection. Griffin, convicted in federal court for entering a restricted area on Jan. 6, claims he was leading a prayer and not engaging in violence. The Supreme Court's decision affirms that states have the authority to disqualify individuals from holding state office.