Court Upholds Trespassing Conviction of Couy Griffin

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia upheld the conviction of Couy Griffin, founder of 'Cowboys for Trump', for trespassing during the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot. The court ruled that prosecutors were not required to prove Griffin knew that then-Vice President Mike Pence was in the Capitol under Secret Service protection when he entered a restricted area. Griffin was sentenced to two weeks in jail and one year of supervised release. This ruling is significant as it affirms the legal standards for trespassing charges against nearly all 1,500 defendants from the riot, potentially impacting hundreds of pending cases. Judge Cornelia Pillard emphasized that requiring knowledge of the protectee's presence would hinder the Secret Service's ability to safeguard designated areas. Griffin may pursue further appeals, potentially to the Supreme Court.