 


 
Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters sentenced to 9 years for voting data scheme


















































 
 
 


































Skip to content







All Sections




Subscribe Now 




22°F


 
							Wednesday, February 19th 2025									
Digital Replica Edition 




Home Page


Close MenuNews

Latest Headlines
Colorado News
Politics
Election 2024
Crime and Public Safety
Courts
National News
World News
Education
Health
Environment
Transportation
Housing
News Obituaries
Photos
Video
Your Hub
Weather


Sports

Sports
Sports Columnists
Denver Broncos
Colorado Rockies
Denver Nuggets
Colorado Avalanche
Colorado Rapids
Olympics
College Sports
Preps
Betting
Golf
Boxing / MMA
Sports on TV/Radio
Sports Podcasts
Olympics


Business

Business
Real Estate
Airlines
Economy
Energy
Retail
Technology
Best Reviews


The Know

The Know
Food and Drink
Art
Culture
Movies
TV & Streaming
Music
Theater
Travel
Family Friendly
Bars
Beer


Outdoors

Outdoors
Hiking
Fall Colors
Cycling
Fitness
Running
Camping
Fishing
Hunting
Water Sports
Skiing
Snowboarding
Winter Sports


Opinion

Opinion
Editorials
Columnists
Letters
Cartoons
Endorsements


Obituaries

Obituaries
News Obituaries
Place an Obituary


Things To Do

Things To Do
Event Calendar
Television Listings
Comics
Games
Horoscopes
Ask Amy
Home & Garden
Free and Cheap
Cannabis
Recipes
Denver Post Store


Classifieds

Classifieds
Automotive
Homes
Jobs


Subscribe
Log In
Logout
Close Menu 



Sign up for Newsletters and Alerts

				Sign Up







 

Crime and Public Safety |  

			Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters…		



Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) 




















Subscribe
Log In
 




Account Settings
Contact Us
Log Out

Spoof a user







Sign up for Newsletters and Alerts

				Sign Up






Subscribe
Log In
 









Search











22°F


 
							Wednesday, February 19th 2025									
Digital Replica Edition 



Crime and Public Safety 


 



Latest Headlines
Colorado
Politics
Crime
Nation
World
Education
Health
Environment
Transportation
Housing
News Obituaries
 









 

 
 



Breaking News



Crime and Public Safety |  

			Body found in Aurora retention pond near UCHealth hospital, police say		








NewsCrime and Public SafetyNewsNews Based on facts, either observed and verified directly by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.


Crime and Public Safety | 

			Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters sentenced to 9 years for voting data scheme		

Tina Peters was found guilty of most charges against her in August for orchestrating the security breach of her elections computer systemShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)

 
						FILE – Candidate Tina Peters speaks during a debate for the state leadership position Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023, in Hudson, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)
		

By Mead Gruver | The Associated PressUPDATED: October 3, 2024 at 4:36 PM MDTA judge ripped into a Colorado county clerk for her crimes and lies before sentencing her Thursday to nine years behind bars for a data-breach scheme spawned from the rampant false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential race.District Judge Matthew Barrett told former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters — after earlier sparring with her for continuing to press discredited claims about rigged voting machines — that she never took her job seriously.“I am convinced you would do it all over again if you could. You’re as defiant as any defendant this court has ever seen,” Barrett told her in handing down the sentence. “You are no hero. You abused your position and you’re a charlatan.”Jurors found Peters guilty in August for allowing a man to misuse a security card to access to the Mesa County election system and for being deceptive about that person’s identity.The man was affiliated with My Pillow chief executive Mike Lindell, a prominent promoter of false claims that voting machines were manipulated to steal the election from former President Donald Trump. The discredited claims trace back to Trump himself, whose supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol because of them and who still hints at them in his third run for president.At trial, prosecutors said Peters, a Republican, was seeking fame and became “fixated” on voting problems after becoming involved with those who had questioned the accuracy of the presidential election results.A one-time hero to election deniers, Peters has been unapologetic about what happened.Before being sentenced, Peters insisted that everything she did to try to unroot what she believed was fraud was for the greater good.

“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.When Peters pressed on with claims no legal authority has corroborated about “wireless devices” and fraud software in voting machines, however, she drew the judge’s exasperation. Ballot recounts showed no discrepancies, he pointed out.“I’ve let you go on enough about this,” Judge Barrett said. “The votes are the votes.”Later, the judge noted that Peters has kept up public appearances in broadcasts to sympathetic audiences for her own benefit.“It’s just more lies. No objective person believes them. No, at the end of the day, you cared about the jets, the podcasts and people flying with you,” Barrett said.Peters had the right to be defiant, he noted, but it was “certainly not helpful for her lot today.”The breach led by Peters heightened concerns that rogue election workers sympathetic to partisan lies could use their access and knowledge to attack voting processes from within.In Mesa County — a scenic, mostly rural area on the Colorado Western Slope known for its peaches, vineyards and mountain biking as well as oil and gas drilling — Peters’ actions have cost the local government $1.4 million in legal fees and lost employee time, County Commissioner Cody Davis estimated at the sentencing hearing.Also Peters’ notoriety has incurred “unseen costs” for the area, Davis told the court.“We have a lot of pride in this community but our reputation has taken a hit,” Davis said. “Her behavior has made this county a national laughingstock.”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.She was found not guilty of identity theft, one count of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation and one count of criminal impersonation. Yet she persisted on social media to accuse Colorado-based Dominion Voting Systems, which made her county’s election system, and others of stealing votes.Colorado won’t allow anyone to threaten its elections, Secretary of State Jena Griswold said in a statement in response to Peters’ sentencing.“Colorado’s elections are the nation’s gold standard. I am proud of how we have responded to the first insider elections breach in the nation and look forward to another secure and successful election in November,” Griswold said.Attorney General Phil Weiser in a statement called the sentence “fair and just.”
Originally Published: October 2, 2024 at 11:15 PM MDTShare this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)



 


Policies
Report an Error
Contact Us
Submit a News Tip
 


 

 

Most PopularMost PopularColumbine High School shooting survivor dies decades after tragedy. Her tenacious spirit is remembered.Columbine High School shooting survivor dies decades after tragedy. Her tenacious spirit is remembered.Colorado Senate passes gun control and labor union bills, sending Democratic priority measures to HouseColorado Senate passes gun control and labor union bills, sending Democratic priority measures to HouseColorado senator resigns seat days before decision on ethics investigation — amid new claim of faked letterColorado senator resigns seat days before decision on ethics investigation -- amid new claim of faked letterPhish will play three Boulder shows this summer — and leave Dick’s Sporting Goods Park behindPhish will play three Boulder shows this summer — and leave Dick's Sporting Goods Park behindCU Boulder student who went missing a week ago remembered for humor, love of movies and musicCU Boulder student who went missing a week ago remembered for humor, love of movies and musicColorado to begin processing individual tax returns this week after delayed e-filing rolloutColorado to begin processing individual tax returns this week after delayed e-filing rolloutRenck: Nuggets’ selfess Aaron Gordon navigates adversity with perspective, support of teammatesRenck: Nuggets' selfess Aaron Gordon navigates adversity with perspective, support of teammatesJeffCo contractor gets 10 years in prison for exposing Arvada neighborhood to asbestosJeffCo contractor gets 10 years in prison for exposing Arvada neighborhood to asbestosColorado road conditions: Snowy roads cause crashes, closures on parts of I-70, U.S. 6Colorado road conditions: Snowy roads cause crashes, closures on parts of I-70, U.S. 6Strike against King Soopers ends as company and union resume talksStrike against King Soopers ends as company and union resume talks 

 

 

				More in Crime and Public Safety			






 




Crime and Public Safety |  

			Body found in Aurora retention pond near UCHealth hospital, police say		












 




Crime and Public Safety |  

			Mother of Club Q mass shooter sues Colorado Springs police officers		












 




Crime and Public Safety |  

			Colorado hunting outfitter pays $500,000 to settle wildfire ignition allegations		












 




Crime and Public Safety |  

			Body found in Boulder Canyon officially IDed as missing CU Boulder student		









 

 

2024
October
2








Subscribe

News Alerts
Submit a News Tip


Member Services

Become a Member
Place a Hold
Digital Replica Edition
Sitemap


Classifieds

Autos
Real Estate
Jobs


Contact Us

Careers
Denver Post Store
Place an Obituary
Advertise With Us
Network Advertising
Privacy Policy
Accessibility


Today’s Front Page

Back Issues
Archives
Mobile Apps




Subscribe Now 




Terms of Use
Cookie Policy
Cookie Preferences
California Notice at Collection
Notice of Financial Incentive
Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
Arbitration
Site Map
Ethics Policy
Powered by WordPress.com VIP
 
Copyright © 2025 MediaNews Group
 




Close

















I bet she had no idea she’d be going to jail for 9 years for Donald Trump.