(TP2) What does Tina Peters’ sentencing mean for election integrity?
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) – Former Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Tina Peters
received her sentencing on October 3 after being found guilty of seven of the 10
charges she faced on August 12.
The trial followed allegations that Peters had tampered with voting machines and
caused a security breach during the 2020 election.
The trial focused on two main accusations: authorization to access voting
machines and identity theft.
During the trial, the prosecution argued that Peters did not have legal
authorization during the time the supposed tampering took place.
The defense argued Peters was to determine the validity of the election and
events, saying the act was not illegal at the time.
Sherrona Bishop, a political activist and one of Peter’s supporters said she
worked on campaigns for the City Council and municipal elections, and “when the
election was over, it didn’t seem right to me or to many in the community.”
For the identity theft accusations, the prosecution argued that Peters broke
rule 20.3.1 under the Secretary of State’s guidelines for election officials,
which speaks to who can be in the room where voting equipment is housed.
“We don’t want to give a key to the room to somebody who hasn’t passed a
criminal background check and who is an employee,” said Caleb Thornton, legal
policy and rule-making manager for the Colorado Secretary of State. “They need
to be an employee. You can’t just give it to anybody. It’s got to be an employee
who passes a criminal background check.”
Furthermore, they argued that Peters allowed Conan Hayes, a former pro-surfer,
to enter the room under the identity of Gerald Wood, a private sector software
engineer of Mesa County. The defense said this was not a violation of her duties
as the clerk.
Ultimately, Peters was found guilty on such charges as:
- Three counts of attempting to influence a public servant
- Conspiracy to commit a criminal impersonation count two
- First-degree of official misconduct
- Violation of duty
- Failure to comply with guidance from the Secretary of State
The trial made national headlines.
“I know that it was going to take a huge person to be nervy enough to say ‘we
need to see what’s happening inside of the Dominion voting machines,” said
Debbie Caroll, a Littleton resident and Tina Peters supporter.
“Ultimately, we cannot allow a person, especially someone like Tina Peters, who
was elected to oversee and execute Mesa County’s elections, to compromise
Colorado’s election equipment or election protocol,” said Jena Griswold,
Colorado Secretary of State.
View all of our past coverage of the Tina Peters Trial.
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