Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters has been sentenced to nine years in prison for her role in an election data scheme following the 2020 presidential election. Peters gained national attention as a prominent figure in the election denial movement after the 2020 election. She was accused of allowing an unauthorized person to access and copy sensitive voting machine data in an attempt to prove baseless claims of election fraud. Peters was convicted of three counts of attempting to influence a public servant, one count of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, first-degree official misconduct, violation of duty, and failing to comply with the secretary of state.
The sentencing took place on Friday, September 27th before Judge Matthew Barrett who delivered a stern rebuke of Peters. He emphasized the seriousness of her actions, stating that they undermined public confidence in elections. The judge noted that Peters had shown no remorse for her actions and continued to spread misinformation about election integrity. Judge Barrett scolded Peters, stating “I am convinced you would do it all over again if you could. You’re as defiant as any defendant this court has ever seen.”
Peters’ charges stemmed from her actions in May 2021, when she allowed an unauthorized individual, later identified as Conan Hayes, to access and copy sensitive voting machine data during a secure software update. Conan Hayes is a known associate of MyPillow CEO, Mike Lindell, who is also known to spread conspiracies regarding the validity of the 2020 election. Peters allegedly stole security credentials of a county employee to help Hayes gain access to voting equipment. The images taken by Hayes during the secure voting equipment update then surface online and a copy of Mesa County’s hard drive was displayed and discussed at a “cyber symposium” hosted by Mike Lindell. Shortly after the symposium, an investigation into the security breach was initiated and the data scheme was discovered.
Tina Peters is not the first election denier to face criminal charges, but her case is particularly significant due to the severity of her actions and the resulting prison sentence. Peters is one of the most high-profile election deniers to be convicted and sentenced to prison for actions related to election fraud claims. Her nine-year prison sentence is notably severe, reflecting the seriousness of her crimes, which included tampering with voting machines and breaching election security. While other election deniers have faced legal consequences, Peters’ case stands out due to her position as a county clerk directly responsible for election security. Peters’ conviction and sentencing serve as a warning to other election officials who might consider similar actions based on unfounded fraud claims. Her case is part of a broader pattern of legal consequences for those who acted on false election fraud claims, though many cases are still ongoing. It represents a significant legal response to attempts to undermine election integrity based on unsubstantiated fraud claims.