Former Mesa County Clerk and Gold Star mother Tina Peters has been found guilty on seven of ten charges related to the preservation of election data. The charges stem from her decision to create a backup of her voting machines’ information before performing a procedure ordered by Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, which involved erasing election data after the 2020 election—a move Peters claimed was illegal.
Peters, who has been a vocal critic of the 2020 election process, argued that she acted within her authority to document potential election fraud in her county. She maintains that her actions were not criminal but rather an effort to safeguard important election records. Despite this, she faced intense scrutiny and legal challenges, including an FBI raid on her home, which she described as a terrifying experience.
The court convicted Peters on charges including attempting to influence a public servant, conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, first-degree official misconduct, violation of duty, and failure to comply with an order from the Secretary of State. However, she was acquitted on three charges: criminal impersonation, conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, and identity theft.
Peters’ defense argued that her actions were intended to prevent the erasure of critical data, a claim that state officials disputed. Her sentencing is scheduled for October 3rd, with potential penalties including up to six years in prison for the most serious charges.
The trial, which concluded on Monday, saw the jury deliver its verdict after roughly four hours of deliberation. Despite the convictions, Peters was not taken into custody immediately and has been directed to report to the county probation office.