WASHINGTON — A Grand Jury in Colorado has indicted Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters for charges related to an investigation into alleged election equipment manipulation and other official misconduct.
Peters was charged with misdemeanor and felony charges in connection to an investigation into a breach of election security in the county’s offices last year. Peters’ deputy Belinda Knisley was also indicted.
Peters is charged with 10 charges: attempting to influence public servants, criminal impersonation and conspiracy to commit criminal identity theft, identity theft, official misconduct as well as violation of duty and failure to comply with the secretary.
“This investigation continues, and other defendants could be charged as we gather more information,” stated Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubinstein in a joint statement that announced the indictments. “We remind everyone that these allegations are only suggestions and that they are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.”
Peters did not respond immediately to a request for comment.
Peters announced last month she will run to be Colorado’s secretary-of-state. She made her announcement one month after she had announced that she would be running for county clerk.
Jena Griswold (Democratic Secretary of State), sued Peters last January, alleging that she allowed an “unauthorized person” to participate the process of updating the county’s electronic voter system. The lawsuit claimed that this led to “the disclosure of State-guarded passwords necessary to access the equipment.” The passwords were apparently then used by an unknown individual or group to gain access to the equipment.
In October, a judge ruled that Peters should be removed as Mesa County’s designated election official. He said she and her deputy had “committed a violation and neglect of duty” and other wrongful actions.
Peters denied any wrongdoing, and called the lawsuit against her ” an attempt to take control of elections.” Peters also claimed that she attempted to protect the voting system’s records and back it up.
