Former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters was sentenced to nine years for leading a security breach of her county’s election system after being inspired by false and baseless claims of voting fraud.
Peters was convicted for giving an individual affiliated with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, an ally of former President Donald Trump, access to the election software she used for her county. Screenshots of the software appeared on right-wing websites.
She was found guilty of most charges of election tampering and misconduct.
“Your lies are well documented, and these convictions are serious,” District Judge Matthews Barrett said. “I’m convinced you would do it all over again if you could. You’re as defiant as a defendant as this Court has never seen.”
“There are many things in my mind that are crystal clear about this case, you are no hero,” Barrett added. “You abused your position, and you’re a charlatan who used and is still using your prior position in office to peddle a snake oil that’s been proven to be junk, time and time again.”
Barrett called the damage done by Peters to undermine the integrity of elections “immeasurable.”
Before being sentenced, Peters took the stand to ask for probation, and told the judge she “never did anything with malice” and believed she was serving the people in Mesa County.
Candidate Tina Peters speaks during a debate for the state leadership position, Feb. 25, 2023, in Hudson, Colo.
David Zalubowski/AP
“I’m not a criminal and I don’t deserve to go into a prison where other people have committed heinous crimes,” Peters said.
The former Mesa County clerk, who gave a lengthy and emotional speech, told the judge she would be willing to not talk about elections anymore if sentenced to probation.
“I really am remorseful,” she said.
Peters became a leading figure fueling false and baseless conspiracy theories about election fraud after the 2020 election. Since then, Peters has held a number of election denial events with Lindell.
“I came to Colorado today because you have here in Colorado the key to the whole nation,” Lindell said in 2022, “because you had a great county clerk, Tina Peters, (who) did her job.”
Lindell has not been charged in the case.
During Thursday’s hearing, election denier Douglas Frank, a Lindell associate, said Peters was among many election officials who were “understandably concerned” about the 2020 election.
“Tina Peters is no conspirator, Tina Peters is a patriot,” Frank said.
Matt Crane, the executive director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, testified that Peters’ actions have led directly to death threats against election officials in the state.
“We’ve seen long time clerks choose retirement due to the flames that Tina has willfully fanned,” Crane said.
“These people have had their jobs made immeasurably harder by what Tina Peters did and her ongoing efforts to fuel the machine that continues to spread lies and disinformation,” Crane said.
“But most importantly, her actions have contributed to millions of Americans developing a distrust in their election for no reason,” he added.
Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters has been sentenced to nine years in prison for her role in tampering with election equipment during the 2020 election. Peters, who was elected as the county clerk in 2018, was found guilty of multiple felony charges, including attempting to influence a public servant and criminal impersonation.
The investigation into Peters began in August 2021 when she and her deputy, Belinda Knisley, were accused of gaining unauthorized access to voting equipment and software. The pair allegedly allowed an unauthorized individual to access the county’s voting system and make unauthorized changes to the software.
Peters and Knisley were also accused of attempting to cover up their actions by lying to investigators and deleting evidence. The investigation revealed that Peters had been in contact with individuals who were known to spread misinformation about the 2020 election and promote baseless claims of voter fraud.
The sentencing of Tina Peters sends a strong message that election tampering will not be tolerated in Colorado or any other state. It serves as a warning to other officials who may be tempted to manipulate election results for their own gain.
In a statement following her sentencing, Peters maintained her innocence and claimed that she was being targeted for her efforts to uncover election fraud. However, the evidence presented in court clearly showed that she had violated the trust of the voters and undermined the integrity of the electoral process.
The case of Tina Peters highlights the importance of safeguarding our democratic institutions and holding accountable those who seek to undermine them. It serves as a reminder that election officials have a duty to uphold the law and ensure that every vote is counted fairly and accurately.
As Colorado prepares for upcoming elections, it is crucial that measures are put in place to prevent future instances of election tampering. This includes implementing strict security protocols for voting equipment and software, as well as holding election officials accountable for any breaches of trust.
The sentencing of Tina Peters should serve as a wake-up call for anyone who may be considering tampering with election results. The consequences are severe, and the damage to our democracy is irreparable. It is up to all of us to protect the integrity of our elections and ensure that every vote counts.
