Janice R. Andrews
Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters received a nine-year prison sentence on Thursday for her involvement in a data-breach plot connected to unfounded 2020 election fraud claims. The sentencing has elicited strong reactions, with supporters praising her as a “hero” while a Colorado judge denounced her as a “charlatan.”
Judge Matthew Barrett delivered a harsh rebuke to Peters, asserting that she misused her position to promote unfounded conspiracy theories about manipulated voting machines. He criticized her for never taking her responsibilities seriously and showing no remorse for her actions throughout the trial.
Peters was convicted in August of permitting unauthorized access to Mesa County’s election system, leading to a data breach that supported baseless election fraud allegations. The breach was linked to an associate of My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell, a prominent proponent of false voter fraud claims. Lindell decried Peters’ conviction, calling it a grave injustice and describing her as a hero who will eventually be exonerated.
During the trial, Peters continued to promote discredited election fraud claims, frustrating Judge Barrett. Prosecutors argued that Peters had become fixated on these claims, seeking fame rather than justice. Her actions significantly damaged Colorado’s election system, increased public distrust, and endangered election workers statewide.
Matt Crane, Director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, testified that Peters’ actions directly led to threats against election workers, including his own family. The breach also inflicted substantial financial and reputational damage on Mesa County, costing an estimated $1.4 million in legal fees and lost employee time.
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold reassured the public of a secure upcoming election, while Attorney General Phil Weiser called the nine-year sentence “fair and just.” The case has drawn sharp reactions from across the political spectrum and highlights the ongoing threat of election conspiracies to democratic institutions and election workers.
