DENVER — The Department of Justice has become involved in the case of Tina Peters, a former county election clerk in Colorado, who was convicted for granting supporters of former President Donald Trump access to sensitive data about the 2020 election. This move by the Justice Department aligns with the administration’s recent patterns of supporting allies who have faced legal repercussions for actions taken in favor of Trump’s interests.
Peters, the former Mesa County Clerk, has gained notoriety among those promoting Trump’s claims of a fraudulent 2020 election. She is currently seeking a release from jail while appealing her state conviction related to a 2021 election security breach. Acting U.S. Assistant Attorney General Yaakov M. Roth filed a motion supporting Peters’ request, citing “reasonable concerns” about her prosecution, which he states are under review for potential “abuses of the criminal justice process” on a national scale.
This federal intervention in a state-level case, pursued by a Republican prosecutor, signifies an unusual step in the Justice Department’s efforts to align with the president’s political objectives. Previously, the Trump administration pardoned numerous individuals convicted for their involvement in the January 6 Capitol attack and attempted to drop corruption charges against a Democratic politician, claiming procedural misconduct.
The prosecution of Peters was led by Mesa County District Attorney Daniel Rubinstein, a Republican, who maintains that the case was free of political bias. Peters’ legal team welcomes the Justice Department’s involvement, asserting she was only performing her duty to safeguard election data.
Experts note that the breach orchestrated by Peters posed significant risks, potentially allowing unauthorized access to vulnerabilities in voting systems that are widely used across the United States. Judge Matthew Barrett, at her sentencing, criticized Peters for abusing her position, sentencing her to nine years.
Peters has since appealed for release during her appeals process, citing health concerns, including ongoing monitoring for lung cancer. She is currently serving a short-term sentence for a misdemeanor before commencing a longer term related to the voting machine charge.
The Justice Department’s recent court filing expresses concern over the length of Peters’ sentence and questions whether her prosecution aimed more at causing political damage than achieving justice.
Critics, including Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, argue that the Justice Department’s actions may serve to legitimize unfounded election conspiracy theories. Prominent Trump supporter MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell has been vocally championing Peters’ release, asserting her as a target of what he describes as systemic election fraud.
Experts warn that the Department of Justice’s position on Peters’ case may signal a weakening of election security protocols, following recent administrative actions affecting election-focused operations within the Department of Homeland Security.
