Colorado leaders emphasize election security after Mesa County clerk convicted

Colorado’s top law enforcement and elections officials released statements after a former county clerk was found guilty in seven of 10 charges involving election integrity in a jury trial.

Tina Peters, the former clerk of Mesa County, was convicted of three counts of attempting to influence a public official during the aftermath of the 2020 election. She also was found guilty of counts to conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, official misconduct, violation of duty and failure to comply with Democratic Secretary of State Jena Griswold’s orders.

“Tina Peters willfully compromised her own election equipment trying to prove Trump’s Big Lie,” Griswold said in a statement. “She has been found guilty by a jury of her peers and will now face the consequences of her actions. Today’s verdict sends a clear message: We will not tolerate any effort to threaten the security of our gold standard elections. I am proud that justice for Colorado voters has been served today.”

Peters, 68, will be sentenced on Oct. 3. She could be sentenced up to six years in prison in each of the three felony convictions for influencing a public official. The conviction for conspiring to commit criminal impersonation carries a sentence of up to 18 months.

Peters was found not guilty of other counts of conspiring to commit criminal impersonation, criminal impersonation and identity theft.

“We place a sacred trust in our elections officials to conduct safe, honest and fair elections – ensuring that every vote is counted,” Colorado Democratic Attorney General Phil Weiser said in a statement. “Tina Peters violated that trust with her fellow Coloradans. A Mesa County jury found her guilty… she was held accountable for her criminal acts, which put the safety of our elections – and the freedom and safety of others – at risk.”

Mike Lindell, the MyPillow CEO who alleged widespread election fraud in the 2020 general election, displayed a Dominion Voting Systems hard drive from Mesa County at a gathering. A subsequent investigation revealed Peters cooperated with others who claimed widespread election fraud and conducted an elaborate scheme to provide Mesa County election information.

“I acted quickly to address the Peters election equipment breach, and then I led the first law in the nation on these types of insider threats,” Griswold said. “We will have a great general election in 2024.”

Weiser thanked his prosecution team who worked with Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubinstein.

“They have worked for several years under difficult circumstances – including abhorrent threats,” Weiser said. “I am grateful for their commitment to the rule of law and sense of duty. 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. In fact, Colorado’s election system is the gold standard of the nation. And make no mistake: my office will continue to protect it.”