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A judge issued a stern reprimand to a former Colorado county clerk, sentencing her to nine years in prison for her role in a data breach linked to the unfounded allegations of voting machine fraud that emerged during the 2020 U.S. presidential election.
District Judge Matthew Barrett addressed ex-Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, reprimanding her for persistently promoting discredited claims regarding electronic voting systems. He expressed doubt over her sincerity and commitment to her public duties.
“I genuinely believe you would repeat your actions if given the chance,” Barrett remarked during the sentencing. “You display a level of defiance rarely seen in this courtroom. You are far from a hero; instead, you exploited your position and engaged in deceitful conduct.”
Peters was found guilty in August for enabling an individual to misuse a security access card, allowing unauthorized entry to the Mesa County election infrastructure. This individual was connected to Mike Lindell, the CEO of My Pillow, who has been a vocal advocate for unfounded theories asserting that voting machines were manipulated to undermine former President Donald Trump’s campaign.
Pursuit of Recognition: Prosecutors’ Claims
Throughout the trial, prosecutors contended that Peters, a member of the Republican Party, became obsessed with the narrative of election fraud after associating with those who contested the legitimacy of the election results. Once celebrated among election skeptics and deniers, Peters expressed no remorse for her actions leading up to the trial.
Before her sentencing, Peters maintained that her efforts to expose what she believed were fraudulent activities were well-intentioned, claiming, “I have never acted with malicious intent to break the law. My only goal has been to serve the residents of Mesa County.”
However, her claims about potential irregularities, such as assertions of “wireless devices” that allegedly modified ballot images, prompted Judge Barrett’s frustration. He pointed out that comprehensive ballot recounts failed to indicate any discrepancies. “I’ve listened to enough of this,” Barrett concluded. “The results are definitive.”
Propagation of Falsehoods
The judge further highlighted how Peters has continued to align herself with sympathetic audiences through various media platforms, appearing more interested in personal gain than in factual representation.
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Peters’ actions intensified fears that partisan election workers could exploit their insider knowledge and access to disrupt electoral processes. She faced multiple charges, including three counts of attempting to influence a public servant, conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, first-degree official misconduct, and failure to adhere to state standards. She was acquitted of charges including identity theft and certain impersonation offenses.
Following her conviction, Peters took to social media, claiming that Dominion Voting Systems, which provides Mesa County’s election technology, and state election officials had orchestrated a vote theft. She vowed to continue her fight for what she asserts is the truth that was suppressed during the trial, stating, “This marks a disheartening chapter for our nation, but I believe we will ultimately prevail.”
A Cautionary Tale: The Attorney General’s Perspective
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser characterized Peters’ conviction as a clear warning, underscoring the seriousness of tampering with electoral processes. Following the wave of false claims about the election, voting technology companies like Dominion and Smartmatic have initiated multiple defamation lawsuits against various media outlets. Smartmatic recently disclosed that it reached undisclosed settlements with conservative networks such as Newsmax and One America News Network for their promotion of baseless vote manipulation accusations. Meanwhile, Dominion secured a $787 million US settlement with Fox News for similar defamatory assertions.
Source
www.cbc.ca