Source: Marc Piscotty / Getty
When Donald Trump complained about 2020 election fraud, he must’ve meant his own supporters like Tina Peters, who was sentenced to nine years for hacking voting machines to support conspiracy theories that he actually won.
Tina Peters, the former Mesa County Clerk, received a nine-year prison sentence for orchestrating a voting data breach in connection with discredited claims of voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election. According to The Associated Press via CNN, Peters allowed unauthorized access to the county’s election system in pursuit of alleged voting machine manipulation, claims that have been widely debunked.
District Judge Matthew Barrett did not hold back during sentencing, calling Peters out for her refusal to admit wrongdoing.
“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,” said Judge Barrett. “You are no hero. You abused your position and you’re a charlatan.”
We shall see if this same energy applies in November for other alleged fraudulent acts…
Mike Lindell’s Lackey: Peters Gets Cozy With Conspiracy Theories
A jury found Peters guilty in August of helping a man connected to MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, a prominent supporter of false voter fraud claims, gain unauthorized access to Mesa County’s election system. The Associated Press via CNN reported that Lindell has long promoted baseless theories that voting machines were tampered with to steal the election from Donald Trump.
Prosecutors argued that Peters became “fixated” on these voter fraud conspiracies after connecting with Lindell’s circle. According to The Associated Press, Peters allowed a man affiliated with Lindell to misuse a security card to breach the county’s voting systems. Despite this, Peters maintained her innocence, telling the court, “I’ve never done anything with malice to break the law. I’ve only wanted to serve the people of Mesa County.”
However, Judge Barrett dismissed her continued claims, pointing out that experts had already disproved them.
“The votes are the votes,” Barrett said, cutting off her attempt to reiterate debunked conspiracy theories.
What is it with officials believing lies?
Planes, Podcasts, and Poppycock: Peters’ Posture For Fame
Source: Marc Piscotty / Getty
Judge Barrett was particularly critical of Peters for capitalizing on her role in the scandal through media appearances. He suggested that Peters cared more about fame than uncovering any real voter fraud. She continued the conspiracy claims to appear on podcasts and broadcasts to a sympathetic audience.
“It’s just more lies. No objective person believes them. No, at the end of the day, you cared about the jets, the podcasts, and people flying with you,” said Barrett, reported by The Associated Press via CNN.
Peters’ continued defiance, according to the judge, did little to help her case. This breach has raised concerns about election workers potentially using their access to voting systems to interfere with election results. According to The Associated Press, the case highlighted how rogue election officials could use their insider knowledge to compromise election integrity.
Voter Vigilante Or Charlatan? Peters Refuses To Go Down Without a Fight
Even after her conviction, Peters refused to back down from her claims of voter fraud. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Peters vowed to continue fighting, claiming,
“I will continue to fight until the Truth is revealed that was not allowed to be brought during this trial… But we WILL win in the end.”
Despite Peters’ persistence, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser emphasized that her conviction should serve as a warning to anyone considering election tampering. According to The Associated Press, Weiser stated that interfering with voting processes will result in serious legal consequences.
Now, where are the other prison sentences for this similar type of behavior? *Bombastic side-eye*
