A jury in Mesa County delivered a guilty verdict on seven out of ten criminal charges against Tina Peters, following a trial related to a security breach that occurred in the elections office she managed in the spring of 2021. The verdict was reached just hours after closing arguments were presented.
Peters was convicted of three felony counts for attempting to influence a public servant, one felony count of criminal impersonation, one misdemeanor count of official misconduct, one misdemeanor count of violating election duties, and one misdemeanor count for failing to comply with the secretary of state. However, she was acquitted of two felony counts of criminal impersonation and one felony count of identity theft.
In a statement after the verdict, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold asserted that Peters intentionally endangered election equipment to support false claims about election integrity. Griswold highlighted that the verdict sends a strong message against compromising election security, expressing her satisfaction that justice has been served.
The investigation into Peters began in August 2021 when it was discovered that sensitive election data had been published online. A grand jury in 2022 charged Peters for allegedly allowing an unauthorized individual to access the elections department to copy election system software and capture sensitive information during an update known as a “trusted build.”
Prosecutors indicated this case was part of a broader effort by election deniers, linked to former President Trump, to undermine trust in electoral systems. During the trial, Robert Shapiro, the prosecution’s lead attorney, emphasized that Peters had opened her office to individuals seeking to exploit election vulnerabilities.
Key figures tied to Peters included Kurt Olsen, associated with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, who is known for promoting election conspiracy theories, along with other proponents of election misinformation. Shapiro revealed that Peters misled officials to permit Hayes, a non-employee, to join the trusted build process by falsely claiming he was a county employee.
The jury was informed about an elaborate plot involving identity deception, disposable phones, and efforts to shield the activities from scrutiny. The prosecution argued Peters acted with intent to deceive, highlighting evidence including her acknowledgment of wrongdoing once she learned of the investigation.
In contrast, defense attorney John Case highlighted Peters’ personal loss when her son died in 2017 and framed her actions as misunderstandings rather than deliberate deception. He voiced questions about the absence of key witnesses and the motivations behind the prosecution’s case.
In response, Deputy Attorney General Janet Drake underlined the evident criminal intent in Peters’ actions, reinforcing that she exploited her position of trust to betray election integrity.
Statements from various officials, including Matt Crane of the Colorado County Clerks Association and Attorney General Phil Weiser, underscored the importance of election security and accountability. Weiser characterized the verdict as a warning to others contemplating similar actions against electoral systems.
Sentencing for Peters is scheduled for October 3.