GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KFQX) — Multiple agencies have filed criminal investigations into Mesa County Clerk and Recorder, Tina Peters’ actions, one involving a Mesa County Grand Jury.
It all started in February of 2020 when the Clerk and Recorders office announced it found more than 500 uncounted ballots, from a prior election in a drop box. Peters declined to have those ballots counted causing more than two dozen employees to quit and leave the Clerks office.
A recall attempt was had but failed, “You can’t go out and avoid public transparency,” Scott McInnis, Mesa County Commissioner says.
Flash forward to 2021, August 9th, Colorado Secretary of State, Jena Griswold announces a probe of the Mesa County’s Clerk’s office.
The FBI then joins the criminal investigation into the alleged security breach, “You’re the weakest link and the one we least expected would hack the computer is the Clerk herself,” Commissioner McInnis says.
August 10th, Peters appears at a cyber symposium alleging, the 2020 Presidential election was rigged. Grand Junction resident and activist, Anne Landman files the first ethics complaint, alleging My Pillow CEO, Mike Lindell paid for Peter’s flight to his symposium.
August 12th, election system passwords show up in a video posted online and the Secretary of State decertifies all of Mesa County’s election equipment, “to prohibit the use of the voting equipment into Mesa County,” Griswold said.
Griswold then orders Mesa County to replace it. Accused of tampering with elections equipment, Peters responds, “I say, never!” Clerk Peters said.
Peters announces a run for re-election in 2022 and refuses the Secretary’s order, leading the State’s Independent Ethics Commission to investigate, “I believe this is an attempt to intimidate an election official,” Peters said.
Anne Landman then files a second complaint, “Tina Peters has violated the public trust, it’s getting to be in more ways than we can count,” Landman said.
In December 2021, Peters denies allegations in the first ethics complaint but refuses to respond publicly to the second.
The Mesa County District Attorney’s office then announces a Grand Jury trial.
In January of 2022, Peters ex-husband, Thomas Peters, slaps the Clerk with another lawsuit alleging Peters initiated a quick claim deed and transferred his new home, to herself.
Clerk Peters is scheduled for a preliminary hearing against her ex-husband, later in February 2022.
The Peter’s saga continued February 8, with the District Attorney’s search warrant and Grand Junction Police Department arrest.
For now, all investigations continue and only time will tell which Federal, State, and local election tampering charges if any Peters will face in the end.
