Justice Department Reviews Tina Peters’ Nine-Year Sentence for Election Tampering

DENVER, Colo. — The U.S. Department of Justice announced Monday it is reviewing the conviction of Tina Peters, former Mesa County clerk, who was sentenced to nine years in prison for leading a security breach of her county’s elections computer system following the 2020 presidential election.

Peters was convicted on several state charges, including tampering with voting machines and official misconduct. Among the charges was an incident involving an associate of MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, a prominent supporter of former President Donald Trump, who gained unauthorized access to election software used in Mesa County.

In February, Peters filed a motion in federal district court in Colorado to challenge her guilty verdict. Subsequently, Yaakov Roth, the senior acting head of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, submitted a motion advising the court to give “prompt and careful consideration” to concerns raised in Peters’ case.

“Reasonable concerns have been raised about various aspects of Ms. Peters’ case,” Roth stated in the filing. “Accordingly, the United States respectfully submits that the concerns raised in the Application warrant – at the very least – prompt and careful consideration by this Court (and, at the appropriate time, the Colorado appellate courts).”

Although the Justice Department cannot directly overturn state-level convictions, observers have noted that the agency’s interest in Peters’ case raises questions about the potential influence of political affiliations in legal proceedings. Critics wonder whether this indicates a troubling trend of utilizing federal resources to support allies of the former president.

In response to the federal review, Mesa County District Attorney Daniel Rubinstein firmly denied any political motivations behind Peters’ prosecution. He emphasized that the case was led by a jury comprised of Peters’ peers, including voters from the largely Republican locale that elected both Peters and the district attorney overseeing her trial.

“Nothing about the prosecution of Ms. Peters was politically motivated,” Rubinstein said in an interview with ABC News. “The all-Republican Board of County Commissioners unanimously requested the prosecution of Ms. Peters on behalf of the citizens she victimized.”

Peters was indicted in connection with her role in a security breach that attempted to uncover alleged election fraud. A Colorado jury found her guilty of three counts of attempting to influence a public servant, conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, first-degree official misconduct, violation of duty, and failure to comply with the Secretary of State’s directives.

During her sentencing in October 2024, U.S. District Judge Matthew Barrett criticized Peters for her actions, stating, “You abused your position and you’re a charlatan,” further remarking, “I am convinced you would do it all over again if you could.”

As the Justice Department reviews Peters’ case, the implications of federal intervention continue to unfold. Roth’s filing outlined that this assessment would extend to examining Colorado’s prosecution and whether it was conducted with motives beyond enforcing justice.

Meanwhile, Peters remains incarcerated, claiming serious health issues that have deteriorated during her time in prison. Her legal team is pursuing an appeal of her conviction and sentence.