A former Mesa County, Colorado, election official has been sentenced to nine years in prison for tampering with voting machines to change the results in the state's 2020 presidential election.
Tina Peters, a Donald Trump loyalist and election conspiracy theorist, was found guilty 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. Peters pleaded not guilty to all charges in 2022, but a jury convicted her on seven of the 10 counts.
"Tina Peters has been sentenced to nine years of incarceration for her dangerous attempts to break into her own election equipment to prove Trump's 'Big Lie'," Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said in a statement. "We will not allow anyone to threaten our elections."
The investigation began a little more than three years ago when images taken during a secure update of Mesa County’s voting equipment surfaced online. At the same time, a copy of Mesa County’s hard drive was displayed and discussed at a “cyber symposium” hosted by Mike Lindell, the MyPillow CEO who has been at the center of false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump.
Investigators also issued a search warrant for Lindell in connection to Peters' case, CBS News reported.
Video of the sentencing hearing has gone viral thanks to Judge Matthew Barrett's sharp retribution of Peters, who complained she "couldn't go to prison" because she sleeps on a special mattress.
Lawyers for Peters say they'll appeal.