Former Clerk Tina Peters Sentenced for Election Tampering in Colorado

On October 3, 2024, former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters was sentenced to nine years in prison for leading a security breach of an election computer system. The conviction and sentencing follow a series of events that were driven by baseless claims of election fraud. The decision was delivered by District Judge Matthew Barrett, who highlighted the severity of the breaches and Peters’ lack of remorse or acknowledgment of wrongdoing.

Tina Peters was found guilty on multiple charges, including several felonies related to election tampering and misconduct. The charges stem from an instance where Peters facilitated unauthorized access to her county’s election software, with screenshots of which later appearing on right-wing websites. The person granted access was connected to MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, a known ally of former President Donald Trump.

During the trial, Judge Barrett admonished Peters for her actions, stating, “Your lies are well documented, and these convictions are serious.” He added, “I’m convinced you would do it all over again if you could.” Peters requested probation, arguing that she acted without malice and for the benefit of the Mesa County populace. However, Judge Barrett emphasized both the punitive and deterrent aspects of the sentence.

Defense attorneys for Peters have indicated plans to appeal the sentence. Moreover, Peters remains a controversial figure among election deniers, having aligned herself with movements doubting the validity of the 2020 presidential election. During her trial, prominent figures such as election denier Douglas Frank spoke in her defense, labeling her a “patriot.”

The prosecution, represented by 21st Judicial District Attorney Dan Rubinstein, urged for a strong sentence, noting that Peters had “made this community a joke” and had not respected legal processes. Rubinstein’s assertions align with statements from Matt Crane, the executive director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, who testified that Peters’ actions led to death threats against election officials.

Evidence presented at the trial demonstrated that Peters, influenced by conspiracy theories, facilitated unauthorized access to voting equipment under the guise of exposing election fraud. Despite claims of irregularities, no evidence of election manipulation was discovered.