Former County Clerk Found Guilty of Election Tampering
A former election official from Colorado, Tina Peters, has been convicted of tampering with voting equipment following the 2020 presidential election. Peters, who previously served as Mesa County Clerk and is a known supporter of election fraud claims, was found guilty on seven out of ten charges by a jury on Monday.
Peters, a Republican, has become a prominent figure among those who baselessly claim that the 2020 election was stolen from former President Donald Trump. Despite her pleas of innocence in 2022, the jury found her guilty of multiple offenses, including three felony charges of attempting to influence a public servant and one count of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation.
This case marks the first time a local election official has been prosecuted for a suspected security breach related to the 2020 election. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold commented on the verdict, stating, “Tina Peters willfully compromised her own election equipment trying to prove Trump’s Big Lie. Today’s verdict sends a clear message: we will not tolerate any effort to threaten the security of our gold standard elections.”
The jury spent over four hours deliberating before reaching a verdict. In addition to the felonies, Peters was also convicted of official misconduct, violation of duty, and failing to comply with the secretary of state’s orders.
Prosecutors argued that Peters engaged in a “deceptive scheme” designed to manipulate public officials, breach security protocols, and provide unauthorized access to confidential voting equipment. The unauthorized individual reportedly posted secure election images online.
Peters’ actions were driven by a fixation on alleged voting irregularities following the 2020 election, according to the prosecution. Investigations into the case also extended to Mike Lindell, the founder of MyPillow and a vocal supporter of election fraud theories, with CBS News reporting that a search warrant was issued in connection to Peters’ activities.
Peters is scheduled for sentencing on October 3rd. Attempts to reach her attorney for comment were unsuccessful.
