Mesa County Clerk and Colorado Republican Secretary of State candidate Tina Peters reacts to an early election return during a preliminary night watch party at Wide Open Saloon on June 28, 2022 in Sedalia, Colorado.
Mark Piscotti | Getty Images
Tina Petersa former Colorado Republican county official who supported a false conspiracy theory that former President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election due to voter fraud, was sentenced Thursday to nine years in prison on charges related to violations of the county’s voting system. I received it.
“You are not a hero,” state District Judge Matthew Barrett told Peters. “You are a charlatan who used, and is still using, your previous position to peddle snake oil that has proven to be junk time and time again.”
“Your lies have been well documented and these convictions are serious. I am sure you would do it all over again if you could,” Barrett told the 68-year-old former man. mesa county The clerk was accused of using someone else’s security badge to allow others to access the county’s election system.
The person who used the badge was Mike Lindell, CEO of My Pillow and a leading proponent of the claim that President Trump’s second term loss was due to voter fraud. It had something to do with it.
“You are the most defiant defendant this court has ever seen,” Barrett told Peters.
Peters, who had applied for probation, told the judge before sentencing: “I have never maliciously broken any laws. I just wanted to serve the people of Mesa County.” he said.
Former Mesa County, Colorado clerk Tina Peters listens during a trial Friday, March 3, 2023, in Grand Junction, Colorado.
Scott Crabtree | AP
Mesa County District Attorney Daniel Rubenstein told Barrett, “Mr. Peters has repeatedly proven that he does not believe he did anything wrong.”
“She gave a statement to the court in her pre-sentence investigation report, giving excuses and justifications, saying she had done something wrong and that this was not the way to deal with the matter. He never admitted that,” Rubenstein said.
“What does every 12-step program start with? It starts with admitting that you have a problem, which she didn’t do, and that you didn’t do anything wrong.” There’s no point in rehabilitating someone who doesn’t think so.”
Ms. Peters was immediately taken into custody after Ms. Barrett refused her attorney’s request to be released.
Peters was found guilty by a trial jury in August of seven charges, including attempted influence on a public official, conspiracy to commit identity theft, breach of duty and failure to comply with Secretary of State requirements.
Former U.S. president and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally at the Rider Health and Physical Education Center at Saginaw Valley State University on October 3, 2024 in Saginaw, Michigan.
Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images
Matt Crane, president of the Colorado County Clerks Association, told Barrett before sentencing that Peters’ false allegations were “realistic and tangible…death threats and general threats against the lives and families of the people who work there.” It is directly connected to.” our election. ”
“She actively helped people in our country who believe that violence is a way to make their point,” Crane said. “She intentionally fanned the flames in people who chose intimidation as a means to get their way.”
Shortly after Peters was sentenced, Republican presidential candidate Trump told attendees at a campaign rally in Michigan that “we won, we won, we certainly won” the 2020 election. .
President Trump said, “The election was fraudulent.”
“That’s why I’m doing it again. If I thought I’d lost, I wouldn’t have done this again,” said Trump, who is running against Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic candidate for president, in this year’s presidential election. .
Trump is facing criminal charges in federal court in Washington, D.C., and state court in Atlanta on charges related to his efforts to undo President Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.
