Former Colorado County Clerk Tina Peters found guilty over 2020 election security breach

Former Colorado County Clerk Tina Peters was found guilty on seven charges related to a 2020 election security breach, prosecutors have announced.

On Monday, of the 10 counts she she faced, Peters was convicted of four felonies and three misdemeanors, but found not guilty on the three remaining counts, Colorado Public Radio reported.

The prosecution argued that Peters had taken a security badge without the owner's position to give to Conan Hayes, who was affiliated with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, to access Mesa County's election system. The attorneys argued that Peters was trying to become famous and a "hero" as she became “fixated” on voting problems, according to The Associated Press.

Peters' defense team argued that she was trying to preserve voting records. The former clerk has admitted to using a county employee's identity to let Hayes copy the hard drive of a ballot marking machine in May 2021 before a software update and to observe the update. The defense argued that Peters did this because the county wouldn't allow her to have a county technology expert observe the software update.

Peters and her legal team have claimed that election information was deleted from the election equipment following the software update.

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

The jury found her not guilty of one count of criminal impersonation, identity theft, and one count of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, which prosecution had argued she committed by taking the security badge without the county employee's permission.

Peters' sentencing is Oct. 3.

"I’m taking a day off to grieve for the people that have been hurt by Dominion brand voting systems and the Secretary of State’s attorneys actions to steal their vote and their voice," Peters posted on her X account Monday. "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."

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser (D) said Monday, “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.”