A local elections official, who became a symbol for election deniers, was sentenced to nine years in prison on Thursday for orchestrating a voting system data breach inspired by unfounded claims that fraud had influenced the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
Tina Peters allowed an associate of Mike Lindell, the pillow salesman and proponent of election falsehoods, to misuse a security card to access the Mesa County election system.
In August, jurors found Peters guilty on seven counts related to misconduct, conspiracy, and impersonation, with four of those charges being felonies. During the sentencing, Judge Matthew Barrett noted that Peters had not demonstrated any remorse for her actions.
Barrett criticized Peters for being “as defiant as a defendant that the court has ever seen” and expressed his belief that she would repeat her actions if given the chance. He accused her of seeking notoriety, despite her claims of not wanting attention, stating she had shown a blatant disregard for the courts, law enforcement, government officials, and her colleagues. He highlighted her lack of seriousness regarding her role as clerk, noting that she had not completed her certification and had been embroiled in “one scandal after another” during her tenure.
“You are no hero,” Barrett asserted. “You abused your position and are a charlatan who has used, and continues to use, your former office to peddle proven falsehoods.”
During the trial, prosecutors argued that Peters, a Republican, became obsessed with supposed voting issues after aligning with individuals who questioned the integrity of the presidential election results. She was charged with permitting access to county voting equipment by an unauthorized individual who was granted security credentials under a different name. Subsequently, materials and passwords were leaked online, including on Telegram and the right-wing outlet the Gateway Pundit, which is currently facing a defamation lawsuit for spreading election-related falsehoods.
In her defense during the sentencing hearing, Peters expressed shock at how she was portrayed and expressed sympathy for her critics advocating for severe sentences. She claimed she was merely trying to fulfill her duties as a clerk.
“I’m just appalled. I feel bad for them because I know, I’ve often said, God doesn’t like people messing with his kids, and I believe I’m a child of God,” Peters stated in a video posted on social media. “And I believe it was important for someone to stand up, and I chose to do that.”
She also informed the judge that she couldn’t go to prison due to her need for a magnetic mattress, which she has used since 1995 to alleviate health issues like chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia.
Peters’ actions fueled growing conspiracy theories surrounding vote tabulation machines, particularly those owned by Dominion Voting Systems. Dominion has actively challenged the false claims about its machines and recently secured a significant settlement from Fox News over similar allegations.
This anti-machine sentiment remains prevalent in right-wing circles as the 2024 election approaches, with some advocating for hand counting of all ballots instead of relying on machine tabulation.
Peters embodies the type of insider threat that election officials fear, as individuals working within election systems could potentially undermine their integrity. Pro-democracy groups hailed the sentencing, asserting that it should serve as a warning to those attempting to sabotage elections.
“It’s important that she is held accountable,” said Nick Penniman, CEO and founder of Issue One, a cross-partisan democracy organization. “Today’s sentencing should send a clear message to potential saboteurs that tampering with America’s elections is a serious offense and that law enforcement is paying attention.”
The fallout from Peters’ actions has had significant financial and reputational repercussions for Mesa County. Officials estimate that taxpayers could face costs of approximately $1.4 million due to Peters’ salary, recounts, and other related expenses, according to Colorado Public Radio.
Peters began her career in public office as the county clerk in 2018 and unsuccessfully ran for the state’s top election position, secretary of state, in 2022.