A judge strongly criticized a former Colorado county clerk for her actions and deception, sentencing her to nine years in prison for a data breach scheme linked to unfounded claims of voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
District Judge Matthew Barrett expressed his disbelief at the defiance displayed by former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, who continued to promote debunked claims about tampered voting machines. “You never took your job seriously,” Barrett stated while delivering the sentence. “You are no hero. You abused your position and you’re a charlatan.”
Peters was found guilty in August for allowing a man to misuse a security card to access the Mesa County election system and for misleading authorities about the individual’s identity. The man was connected to Mike Lindell, the CEO of My Pillow, who has been a vocal supporter of baseless allegations that voting machines were manipulated to benefit Joe Biden over Donald Trump.
Prosecutors described Peters as a Republican who became “fixated” on election fraud claims after associating with those questioning the legitimacy of the presidential election results. Despite her conviction, Peters maintained that her actions were motivated by a desire to uncover fraud.
“I’ve never done anything with malice to break the law. I’ve only wanted to serve the people of Mesa County,” she told the court. However, her continued insistence on unverified allegations about voting fraud led to the judge’s frustration, as recounts had shown no irregularities.
Judge Barrett remarked on her ongoing public appearances, suggesting that they were primarily for her own gain. “It’s just more lies. No objective person believes them,” he said, emphasizing that her actions had more to do with seeking attention than genuine concern for election integrity.
The breach raised alarms over the potential for partisan individuals with insider knowledge to undermine the voting process. Matt Crane, director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, highlighted the severe implications of Peters’ actions, stating they had incited death threats against election workers and their families.
In total, Peters’ misconduct has cost local governments an estimated $1.4 million in legal expenses and lost productivity, with Mesa County Commissioner Cody Davis asserting that her behavior had tarnished the community’s reputation.
Peters was convicted on multiple counts related to her attempts to sway a public official and was acquitted of identity theft charges. Despite her legal troubles, she continued to accuse the Dominion Voting Systems of vote tampering.
In response to the sentencing, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold emphasized the state’s commitment to protecting its electoral processes, stating that Colorado’s elections set a national standard. Attorney General Phil Weiser described the sentence as “fair and just.”