Ex-voter objector sentenced to nine years in prison for manipulating voting equipment

A former Colorado county official who spread conspiracy theories about the 2020 election was sentenced Thursday to nine years in prison on charges including official misconduct related to a security breach of Mesa County's election system.

“Your lies are well documented and these convictions are serious,” Judge Matthew Barrett told Tina Peters before handing down his sentence for the 2021 security breach, calling her a “charlatan” who used her time in office “to sell snake oil “. ”

Peters was convicted in August of four felonies and three misdemeanors for using another person's security ID to gain access to someone associated with MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, a prominent election denier and ally of former President Donald Trump Procure election equipment for the district.

The county's machines subsequently had to be replaced as data, including passwords for the machines, were brought online.

Peters was “a fox guarding the chicken coop,” prosecutor Jessica Drake said in her closing argument in August. “Her job was to protect the voting equipment and she turned it on and used its power to her own advantage.”

Peters claims she did nothing wrong.

“It is with a heavy heart that I hear the vile accusations and anger leveled against me for my actions to protect the people of Mesa County,” she told the judge before he handed down his sentence. She said she was simply trying to preserve information to ensure the election was safe and asked the judge to sentence her to probation.

Matt Crane, executive director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, told the judge there were legal options she could have used to preserve the information she wanted without engaging in an “insidious” scheme. He said their actions cost the county over $1 million.

District Attorney Daniel Rubinstein asked the judge to sentence Peters to the maximum sentence, citing her lack of remorse. He also pointed out that despite her claims of widespread fraud, she has never identified a single fraudulent vote.

County officials said her continued fraudulent election claims also led to a series of death threats against poll workers as she traveled across the country promoting her claims, ignoring her actual duties. Peters denied the claims and said she called the office while she was out of state.

Peters ran for secretary of state in 2022 after she was indicted and lost in the Republican primary. She also claimed voter fraud in that election and called for a recount after losing by 85,000 votes. The recount resulted in her receiving an additional 13 votes – as did the overall winner of the primary, Pam Anderson.