A jury in Mesa County found Tina Peters guilty on seven out of ten criminal charges related to a security breach in the elections office she oversaw as the county clerk and recorder in spring 2021. The verdict was reached just hours after closing arguments in the case.
Peters faced three felony counts of attempting to influence a public servant, one felony count of criminal impersonation, one misdemeanor count of official misconduct, one misdemeanor count for violation of duty in elections, and one misdemeanor count for failure to comply with the secretary of state. She was acquitted of two felony counts of criminal impersonation and one felony count of identity theft.
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold commented on the verdict, stating that Peters had willfully compromised election equipment in an effort to support unfounded claims about election fraud. She emphasized that the jury’s decision underscores the importance of maintaining the security of elections in Colorado.
The investigation into Peters began in August 2021 after confidential data from the Mesa County election system was posted online. A grand jury later indicted Peters for her involvement in permitting an unauthorized individual to access the elections office to duplicate software and acquire sensitive information during an election equipment software update.
Prosecutors described how Peters collaborated with various individuals associated with conspiracy theories to challenge the integrity of the election equipment. Among those involved was Kurt Olsen, an associate of MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, who also promotes election conspiracies.
The prosecution presented evidence indicating that Peters misled officials to facilitate this security breach, including allowing Hayes, an unauthorized individual, to pose as a Mesa County employee during crucial software updates. Additional testimonies highlighted that Peters had directed her staff to engage in suspicious behavior, such as using disposable phones and encrypted communications.
Defense attorneys argued that Peters was a target of government persecution following her actions and maintained that she believed she was protecting election integrity. They questioned the absence of crucial witnesses and characterized the prosecution’s case as lacking sufficient evidence.
In response, the prosecution maintained that Peters’ actions demonstrated a clear intent to commit fraud, noting the deliberate nature of her decisions and the circumvention of established security protocols.
Following the verdict, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser praised the work of the prosecuting team and issued a warning against any future attempts to tamper with the election process. Sentencing for Peters is scheduled for October 3.