High-Profile Election Case Verdict Raises New Security Concerns

Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters has been found guilty on 7 out of 10 charges related to election tampering and misconduct, concluding a high-profile legal saga.

At a Glance

Former Colorado clerk Tina Peters was found guilty by a jury on most charges related to a security breach after the 2020 election.
Peters was accused of using someone else’s security badge to give an expert affiliated with Mike Lindell access to the Mesa County election system.
Peters was convicted of three counts of attempting to influence a public servant, one count of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, and other offenses.
Peters will be sentenced on October 3, facing potential prison terms ranging from 18 months to six years.

Peters Found Guilty

Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters was found guilty by a jury on seven charges related to election tampering and misconduct after the 2020 election. The charges stem from a high-profile case that has drawn significant attention due to her controversial stance on election integrity. Her convictions illustrate the complexities and challenges surrounding election security and public trust in electoral processes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnZIBuJza04

Peters was accused of using someone else’s security badge to give an expert affiliated with Mike Lindell access to the Mesa County election system. She deceived officials about that person’s identity. Mike Lindell is a prominent promoter of claims that voting machines were manipulated to steal the election from Donald Trump.

Former Colorado clerk Tina Peters, the first local election official to be charged with a security breach after the 2020 election as unfounded conspiracy theories swirled, was found guilty. https://t.co/QrdirKUIS2

— The Daily Record (@MDDailyRecord) August 13, 2024

Charges and Verdict

Peters was convicted of three counts of attempting to influence a public servant, one count of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, first-degree official misconduct, violation of duty, and failing to comply with the secretary of state.

“The defendant was a fox guarding the henhouse. It was her job to protect the election equipment, and she turned on it and used her power for her own advantage,” said Drake, a lawyer from the Colorado Attorney General’s Office.

However, she was found not guilty of identity theft, one count of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, and one count of criminal impersonation. Despite the mixed verdict, the charges Peters was convicted of carry significant penalties. She will be sentenced on October 3, with potential prison terms for her felony convictions ranging from 18 months to six years, and up to a year for each misdemeanor.

Attorney General Phil Weiser's statement on today's guilty verdict in the Tina Peters election tampering trial. Read his full statement on our website: https://t.co/jb8Wnm9E9V pic.twitter.com/bkNkRj1qlU

— Colorado Attorney General (@COAttnyGeneral) August 13, 2024

Defense Arguments and Public Reaction

The defense argued that Peters only wanted to preserve election records and did not commit any crimes. Prosecutors, however, argued that Peters deceptively worked with outsiders affiliated with Lindell and allowed a man posing as a county employee to take images of the election system’s hard drive. Sheriffonna Bishop, a political activist, testified that Wood, whose security badge Peters used, was aware of its use through a Signal chat, though Wood denied knowing his identity would be used.

“I will continue to fight until the Truth is revealed that was not allowed to be brought during this trial. This is a sad day for our nation and the world. But we WILL win in the end,” she said.

Security was heightened during the trial due to threats of violence against the judge and prosecutors. The jury deliberated for roughly four hours before reaching the verdict. Peters was not taken into custody immediately but was directed to report to the county probation office.

Prosecutors emphasized the importance of this verdict in maintaining election integrity. “Today’s verdict is a warning to others that they will face serious consequences if they attempt to illegally tamper with our voting processes or election systems. I want to be clear—our elections are safe and fair,” emphasized Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold.

The trial began on July 30 and lasted eight days, culminating in a verdict that underscores the broader issues of election security and public trust in democratic institutions.