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Tina Peters asks court for relief, feds ask for caution—judge asks why
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Approved, denvergazette.com, National, State

Tina Peters asks court for relief, feds ask for caution—judge asks why

By Michael Karlik | Denver Gazette A federal judge on Tuesday struggled to understand why the United States government is claiming an "interest" in a relatively narrow issue related to the prosecution and conviction of former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters. Although the government now alleges Peters' state criminal case may have been politically motivated, the U.S. Department of Justice's attorney would not say what evidence, if any, the department has to that effect. When the federal government files a statement asserting it has an interest in a case, "the typical situation is, 'We have an interest, judge, that you may not know about and we want you to be aware of it,'" said Chief U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak during a hearing. "I’m just struggling to see what you all br...
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Griswold sues against Trump’s executive order on elections but is a case study for it
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Approved, National, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Griswold sues against Trump’s executive order on elections but is a case study for it

By Rocky Mountain Voice Editorial Board When Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold announced that she was joining a multi-state lawsuit to block President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) on election integrity, she declared the action a defense of democracy itself. “We will not wait on the sidelines while Donald Trump tries to legislate from the Oval Office and defies the Constitution,” Griswold said in an April 3 press release. But while Griswold accuses President Trump of federal overreach, her own record suggests a pattern of constitutional violations that have unfolded under the banner of election protection.  In fact, her treatment of Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters has become a case study in why federal oversight of elections—as President Trump’s EO proposes—may be more nec...
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Is Tina Peters’ life at risk in jail? Attorneys sound the alarm on her health decline
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Is Tina Peters’ life at risk in jail? Attorneys sound the alarm on her health decline

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters’ time in Larimer County Jail is taking a toll, according to her legal team and supporters. They say she’s experiencing memory loss, declining health and mistreatment—claims that have only fueled concerns about her condition. With growing pressure on Governor Jared Polis to grant a pardon, Peters’ case is becoming a test of justice, fairness and political influence in Colorado. Attorney John Case, who has been visiting Peters regularly, described noticeable changes in her health since she was taken into custody. "I visit Tina approximately weekly, the most recent visit was Sunday, March 16. I notice that Tina has difficulty with memory and word finding, compared to her cognitive abil...
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In Department of Justice inquiry to Tina Peters’ case, the question is whether she is a political prisoner
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

In Department of Justice inquiry to Tina Peters’ case, the question is whether she is a political prisoner

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice If an election official was sentenced to nine years in prison, you might assume they had been caught stuffing ballot boxes or rigging results. But, what if they were convicted for preserving election records? That’s the case of Tina Peters, the former Mesa County clerk, whose actions led to a landmark prosecution — one that has now drawn scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justice.  Federal authorities are stepping in to review whether her sentence was excessive and whether her prosecution was influenced politically. The case also beckons scrutiny over the intersection of election integrity, the rule of law and the fair application of justice. The DOJ’s Statement of Interest, filed March 3 by Acting Assistant Att...
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Prosecution of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters to be reviewed by Justice Department
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Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Prosecution of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters to be reviewed by Justice Department

By Marianne Goodland | Colorado Politics The U.S. Department of Justice has announced it will review the Colorado case that led to the prosecution of former Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Tina Peters. In May 2021, Peters was convicted of multiple felonies and misdemeanors related to a security breach involving election equipment at the Mesa County Clerk and Recorder's Office. The Justice Department's intervention is connected to a federal lawsuit Peters filed against the Larimer County Sheriff, seeking to be released from jail while the appeals process moves forward. Peters was sentenced to nine years in prison, with six months to be served in county jail and the rest in state prison. She was convicted of four felonies, including three counts of attempting to influence a public se...
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March for Tina Peters is Saturday, March 1, in Fort Collins
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

March for Tina Peters is Saturday, March 1, in Fort Collins

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Tina Peters, formerly the Mesa County clerk and recorder, rose to notoriety for her stance on election integrity, after facilitating a forensic image of Mesa County’s election management system prior to a ‘Trusted Build’ by the Colorado secretary of state. In October 2024, Tina Peters was handed a nine-year prison sentence following a conviction on seven charges, including three felonies, for attempting to influence a public servant, one for conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation and misdemeanors for official misconduct, duty violation and noncompliance with the secretary of state. Peters is currently serving her sentence in the Larimer County jail. Her backers are uniting for a show of support, hoping for justice...
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Tina Peters’ filing argues her actions were protected by the Supremacy Clause
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Tina Peters’ filing argues her actions were protected by the Supremacy Clause

"She [Peters] is pale, has lost weight, and has difficulties with memory and word-finding," filing reads By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters has taken her fight to the U.S. District Court in Colorado, claiming her prosecution violated the U.S. Constitution. On Feb. 7, Peters filed a habeas corpus petition to challenge her incarceration, claiming she was simply doing her duty to preserve election data, as required by federal rules. The petition, filed under 28 U.S.C. § 2254, contests Peters’ denial of bond pending appeal and claims multiple constitutional violations in her trial.  It asserts that her prosecution is invalid because 52 U.S.C. § 20701 requires election officials to preserve election records for 22 months...
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Tina Peters is now a Larimer Co. inmate. Here’s detail on why Mesa Co. chose to transfer Peters
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Tina Peters is now a Larimer Co. inmate. Here’s detail on why Mesa Co. chose to transfer Peters

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Fears expressed by Tina Peters to Mesa County Sheriff's Office deputies during her stay in the county's jail led to the decision this week to relocate the former Mesa County clerk, the Rocky Mountain Voice has learned. In an overabundance of caution and to help ensure her feeling of safety, Peters has been transferred to the Larimer County jail. Sgt. Justin Montover, of the Mesa County Sheriff’s Professional Standards and Internal Affairs Unit, clarified key details regarding Peters’ incarceration and the measures taken to address her concerns.  “On several occasions, Tina was asked if she felt safe and to provide specifics about any issues," he said. "She expressed fears, but did not provide clear details about d...
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Court of Appeals vacates contempt conviction against Tina Peters in iPad recording case
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Approved, Local, Rocky Mountain Voice

Court of Appeals vacates contempt conviction against Tina Peters in iPad recording case

By Lindy Browning | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice In a court order filed Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, the Court of Appeals ruled that the case against Tina Peters concerning a contempt of court conviction over an iPad recording in Mesa County be vacated. Her attorney John Case said in a written statement, “The Colorado Court of Appeals reversed Tina’s conviction for contempt and vacated the judgment, meaning that the contempt case is over and there will be no retrial. She had been found innocent of recording a judicial proceeding and innocent of lying to Judge Barrett.  The basis of the ruling was that [District Attorney] Dan Rubinstein failed to present sufficient evidence to sustain a conviction.” In response to Case's statement, Rubinstein wrote, “... there is no s...
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Tina Peters has been transferred from Mesa County to Larimer County jail
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Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Tina Peters has been transferred from Mesa County to Larimer County jail

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice Former Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Tina Peters has been transferred from the Mesa County jail to the Larimer County jail.  According to Larimer County booking information, Peters was processed as an inmate into the Larimer County jail at 11:53 a.m.  Wednesday. No other booking information was provided. On Oct. 3, 2024, Judge Matthew Barrett sentenced Peters to a 9-year prison sentence after she was previously found guilty of three counts of attempting to influence a public servant, conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, official misconduct, violation of duty and failure to comply with an order by the secretary of state.  She was immediately taken into custody following sentencing. The sentence i...
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