A Colorado county clerk who promoted conspiracy theories about the 2020 election has been sentenced to nine years in prison for election tampering.

The Daily Mail reported that Tina Peters, 68, received her sentence after being convicted on seven counts related to allowing unauthorized access to voting machines in Mesa County.

The sentencing hearing took an unusual turn when Peters delivered an hour-long speech defending her actions and reiterating false claims about election fraud, visibly frustrating the judge.

Peters, a former Mesa County clerk, was found guilty of using someone else's security badge to grant access to the county's election system to an expert associated with Mike Lindell, the CEO of My Pillow and a prominent promoter of election conspiracy theories.

This unauthorized access allowed for the creation of forensic images of the election system's hard drives following a software update in May 2021.

Judge's Visible Frustration During Peters' Speech

During the sentencing hearing, Judge Matthew Barrett's patience was tested as Peters addressed the court for nearly an hour. The judge's frustration became evident when he facepalmed during a disagreement with the defendant about the accuracy of voting machines and hand-counted audits.

Peters insisted that ballot images were altered, a claim that the judge had already dismissed based on evidence from hand-counted audits.

The exchange highlighted the deep divide between Peters' beliefs and the court's findings, with the judge expressing dismay at Peters' allegations that he knew her claims to be true.

At one point, Barrett laughed in response to Peters' assertions, prompting her to state that her "life is on the line." The judge, maintaining a composed demeanor, clarified that he found her allegations insulting and untrue.

Former President Trump's Praise and Peters' Defiance

Peters' actions gained her notoriety among those who question the integrity of the 2020 election.

Former President Donald Trump met with Peters at Mar-a-Lago in 2022 and praised her efforts, describing her as a "rock star" and lamenting the legal consequences faced by those investigating alleged voter fraud.

Before her sentencing, Peters remained defiant, telling the judge:

It is with a heavy heart that I hear the vile accusations and anger levied against me for what I did to protect the people of Mesa County. I think it was important for someone to stand up and I chose to do that.

Prosecutors' Arguments and Judge's Final Verdict

Prosecutors argued that Peters became fixated on voting problems after becoming involved with individuals questioning the 2020 election results.

They claimed she allowed a man posing as a county employee to access and image the election system's hard drive before and after a software upgrade.

Janet Drake, a prosecutor from the Colorado Attorney General's Office, likened Peters to "a fox guarding the henhouse," emphasizing that it was her job to protect the election equipment, but she instead used her position for personal advantage.

Peters' defense team contended that she only sought to preserve 2020 election data before a system software update to protect the integrity of the vote. However, this argument failed to sway the court.

In delivering the nine-year prison sentence, Judge Barrett described Peters as "as defiant as any defendant this court has ever seen." This characterization reflects the judge's perception of Peters' unyielding stance throughout the legal proceedings.

Conclusion

Colorado county clerk Tina Peters was sentenced to nine years in prison for election tampering related to the 2020 vote. During her sentencing, Peters delivered a lengthy speech claiming widespread voter fraud, which visibly frustrated Judge Matthew Barrett. Barrett, who had previously verified the election's integrity through an audit, dismissed Peters' claims as Peters maintained her stance despite the evidence against her. The case highlighted ongoing tensions and conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 election results.