Major Controversies Surrounding Tina Peters (politician): A Detailed Timeline
A closer look at the most debated and controversial moments involving Tina Peters (politician).
Tina Peters is an American politician who served as Mesa County, Colorado Clerk. She gained notoriety for her involvement in attempts to undermine the 2020 presidential election results based on unsubstantiated conspiracy theories. This led to her temporary suspension as clerk in 2021. In August 2024, she was convicted on seven charges, including four felonies, related to unauthorized access to election machines. This made her the first U.S. election official convicted of crimes related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election. She was subsequently sentenced to nine years of incarceration.
November 2019: Ballots Uncounted
In November 2019, 574 ballots were not counted and remained in a box until February 2020.
February 2020: Discovery of Uncounted Ballots
In February 2020, an unemptied ballot box containing 574 ballots from the November 2019 election was discovered in front of the Mesa County election headquarters in Grand Junction. These ballots had remained uncounted for months. Peters attributed it to "human error".
August 2020: Voter Recall Effort Fails
From April to August 2020, there was a voter recall attempt against Tina Peters. The recall effort failed, falling short by approximately 1,200 signatures of the 12,129 required to put the question on the ballot for the November 3, 2020, general election.
2020: Involvement in Efforts to Overturn 2020 Election
In 2020, Tina Peters engaged in efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, based on conspiracy theories about Donald Trump's defeat.
May 2021: Ordered Surveillance Cameras to be Turned Off
In May 2021, Tina Peters ordered the surveillance cameras monitoring the voting machines in the clerk's office to be turned off, with reactivation planned before the August 2021 election. She later stated that continuous operation wasn't legally required, only a period 60 days before and 30 days after elections. Mesa County Commissioner Janet Rowland noted that Peters had not turned off the cameras after any of the eight previous elections since 2018.
August 12, 2021: Decertification of Voting Equipment
On August 12, 2021, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold issued Election Order 2021-02 (EO-02), which decertified Mesa County's voting equipment. The equipment needed to be replaced before the November election unless a hand count of ballots was chosen. Griswold also announced that Peters could no longer oversee the 2021 election.
August 2021: Election System Files Published by Ron Watkins
In August 2021, Ron Watkins, a conspiracy theorist, published computer files associated with the Mesa County election system, including forensic images of Mesa County's voting machines, software update videos, and partially blurred passwords on a Telegram channel. The Gateway Pundit also shared related data.
August 2021: Planned Reactivation of Surveillance Cameras
In August 2021, the surveillance cameras monitoring the voting machines in the clerk's office were planned to be reactivated.
August 16, 2021: Ethics Complaint Filed Against Peters for Accepting Gifts
On August 16, 2021, an ethics complaint was filed against Tina Peters, alleging she accepted gifts, including plane rides, from Mike Lindell exceeding the state gift limit.
August 17, 2021: FBI Investigation and Election Order
On August 17, 2021, the FBI investigated the alleged Mesa County election equipment breach alongside the Colorado Department of State's and County Treasurer's offices. Because Peters was in hiding and not complying, Griswold issued a third Election Order, 2021-03 (EO-03), which permitted Mesa County Treasurer and former Clerk and Recorder Sheila Reiner to take control of the Mesa County elections as Election Supervisor. Griswold appointed her Republican predecessor, former Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams, as the Designated Election Official.
August 19, 2021: Mike Lindell Claims Peters is in a Safe House
On August 19, 2021, MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell stated in an interview with Vice News that Tina Peters was "holed up" in a safe house for her protection. Her location was leaked by a member of Lindell's security team, so she was moved.
August 21, 2021: Support Rally Held for Peters
On August 21, 2021, a support rally was held for Tina Peters in Mesa County. Her supporters claimed there had been a security breach.
August 23, 2021: Deputy Clerk Suspended
On August 23, 2021, Mesa County Human Resources Director Brenda Moore suspended Deputy Clerk Belinda Knisley with pay, citing unprofessional behavior and a hostile work environment. Mesa County Elections Manager Sandra Brown was also suspended.
August 24, 2021: Vote to Replace Election Equipment
On August 24, 2021, the all-Republican Mesa County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to replace 41 compromised pieces of election equipment with new equipment also from Dominion Voting Systems. The commissioners extended the service agreement for eight years (to 2029) and purchased a "Dominion Ballot Audit Review" for $3,300 per election, for a total cost of $825,281. The agreement included a promise that the company would not file a civil lawsuit against the county over defamatory remarks allegedly made by Peters.
September 2021: Campaign Violations Begin
In September 2021, the campaign violations that led to Tina Peters' fine began. She had failed to register as a candidate and file accurate campaign donation and expenditure reports.
September 17, 2021: Report on Forensic Examination and Analysis
On September 17, 2021, Tina Peters provided the county commissioners with an 83-page report titled "Forensic Examination and Analysis" prepared by cyber forensic expert Doug Gould. The report examined server hard drives, concluding that further investigation was required to determine if non-compliance with voting system mandates was deliberate or negligent. Griswold's office responded that counties are directed to save data necessary to completely audit and verify a prior election before upgrading voting equipment.
October 2, 2021: Quit-Claim Deed Filing
On October 2, 2021, Tina Peters filed a quit-claim deed for a home previously purchased by Thomas Peters. This action occurred on the same day her power of attorney over Thomas Peters was rescinded, leading to allegations of deceit and deception.
October 13, 2021: Barred from Supervising Election
On October 13, 2021, Mesa County District Court Judge Valerie Robinson ruled that Tina Peters and Belinda Knisley had allowed a breach in the county's election system during a software update and, therefore, were barred from supervising the November election. Peters said she would appeal, but the Colorado Supreme Court declined to take up her appeal on October 21.
November 8, 2021: Lawsuit Filed by Colorado Secretary of State
On November 8, 2021, the Colorado Secretary of State filed a lawsuit against Tina Peters, alleging fundraising violations and failure to report contributions and expenses for nearly three years.
November 16, 2021: Search Warrants Executed
On the evening of November 16, 2021, law enforcement authorities executed search warrants on the homes of Tina Peters, Sherronna Bishop, and two others as part of the criminal investigation. Tina Peters claimed on TV that the agents had broken down the door of one residence with a battering ram, but they denied this. No arrests were made.
2021: Suspension by Colorado Secretary of State
In 2021, Tina Peters was temporarily suspended by the Colorado Secretary of State.
January 2022: Second Ethics Complaint Investigates Peters' Elections Fund
In January 2022, a second ethics complaint was made and investigated Tina Peters' elections fund.
February 7, 2022: Peters Video Records Court Proceedings, Charged with Contempt
On February 7, 2022, Tina Peters was observed video recording court proceedings on her iPad, leading to a contempt of court charge, which was later overturned.
February 2022: Campaign Violations End
In February 2022, Tina Peters' campaign violations that led to her fine concluded. This was before she dropped out of that race on February 14, 2022.
March 9, 2022: Peters Indicted on 13 Counts
On March 9, 2022, Tina Peters was indicted on 13 counts, including attempting to influence a public servant, conspiracy, official misconduct, obstruction, contempt of court, criminal impersonation, and identity theft related to claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election.
April 2022: Lindell Discloses Donation to Peters' Legal Defense Fund
In April 2022, Mike Lindell disclosed donating between $200,000 and $800,000 to Tina Peters' legal defense fund and campaign, potentially violating state gift limits.
May 17, 2022: Ethics Complaint Found Non-Frivolous
On May 17, 2022, the Colorado ethics commission found a third ethics complaint filed on May 9 against Tina Peters non-frivolous, based on comments made at an "Election Truth Rally" regarding payments from Mike Lindell.
June 28, 2022: Loss in Secretary of State Primary Election
On June 28, 2022, Tina Peters ran in the Republican primary election for Colorado Secretary of State, but came in second out of three candidates. She then suggested election fraud.
July 11, 2022: Sandra Brown Arrested in Connection to Election Tampering Conspiracy
On July 11, 2022, County Elections Manager Sandra Brown turned herself in for arrest, named in an affidavit for conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation and attempt to influence a public servant.
July 2022: Warrant Issued for Peters' Arrest for Leaving State Without Permission
In July 2022, a warrant was issued for Tina Peters' arrest after she traveled out of state to attend a Lindell event in Las Vegas without court permission. Later that month, a second warrant was issued due to her violation of bond conditions by emailing county clerk's offices about a recount with hand counting.
July 2022: Paid for Manual Recount of Votes
In late July 2022, Tina Peters paid $256,000 to conduct a manual recount of votes cast in the primary election. The recount resulted in a gain of 13 votes for Peters, maintaining her 29 percent vote share.
August 6, 2022: Peters' Suit Challenging Recount Methods Dismissed
On August 6, 2022, Tina Peters' suit challenging the methods used in the recount was dismissed.
August 7, 2022: Peters Pleads Not Guilty to Election Tampering Charges
On August 7, 2022, Tina Peters pled not guilty to all charges related to alleged election machine tampering, with a trial set for March 2023.
August 20, 2022: Peters Appears in "[S]election Code" Documentary
On August 20, 2022, Tina Peters and Sherronna Bishop appeared in a documentary released by Mike Lindell titled "[S]election Code".
August 25, 2022: Knisley Pleads Guilty, Agrees to Testify Against Peters
On August 25, 2022, Knisley pled guilty to misdemeanor counts, agreeing to testify against Tina Peters in exchange for avoiding prison.
November 30, 2022: Sandra Brown Pleads Guilty, Agrees to Testify Against Peters
On November 30, 2022, Sandra Brown pled guilty to attempting to influence a public servant and official misconduct, as part of a plea agreement requiring her to testify against Tina Peters, with her performance on the witness stand impacting her sentencing.
March 2023: Peters Convicted of Obstruction, Acquitted of Obstructing Peace Officer
In March 2023, Tina Peters was convicted of obstruction of government operations but acquitted of obstructing a peace officer. She was sentenced to house arrest, a fine, and community service.
May 5, 2023: Peters Held in Contempt of Court, Fined $1,500
On May 5, 2023, Tina Peters was held in contempt of court for lying about recording court proceedings and was fined $1,500.
September 6, 2023: Peters Pleads Not Guilty to Multiple Charges
On September 6, 2023, Tina Peters pleaded not guilty to charges of attempting to influence a public servant, conspiracy, criminal impersonation, identity theft, official misconduct, violation of duty, and failing to comply with the secretary of state. Her trial was pushed back to February 9, 2024.
October 4, 2023: Fined for Campaign Violations
On October 4, 2023, the Colorado Office of Administrative Courts fined Tina Peters $15,400 for violating the Fair Campaign Practice Act. This was due to failing to register as a candidate and filing inaccurate campaign donation reports while running for reelection as Mesa County Clerk and Recorder.
November 13, 2023: Peters Files Lawsuit Alleging Constitutional Rights Violations
On November 13, 2023, Tina Peters filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court against various government officials, alleging violations of her constitutional rights due to investigations and charges against her for raising election integrity concerns.
February 2024: Peters Fires Attorneys Again, Trial Postponed
In February 2024, Tina Peters fired her attorneys again, claiming to have COVID-19, and the trial was delayed until July and August 2024.
August 2024: Conviction and Sentencing
In August 2024, Tina Peters was convicted in Colorado state court on seven charges, including four felonies, relating to unauthorized access to election machines and was subsequently sentenced to nine years of incarceration.
August 2024: Peters Convicted on Multiple Charges of Election Security Breach
In August 2024, Tina Peters was convicted on seven of ten charges related to a security breach to advance a false conspiracy theory of election fraud. After her conviction, she appeared on the Steve Bannon War Room podcast to reiterate her allegations.
October 2024: Peters Sentenced to Nine Years in Prison
In October 2024, Tina Peters was sentenced to nine years in prison and taken into custody. The judge criticized her for her lies and for using her position to spread misinformation.
May 2025: Trump Directs DOJ to Secure Peters' Release
In May 2025, President Donald Trump directed the U.S. Department of Justice to take actions to secure Tina Peters' release.
July 22, 2025: Hearing Set for Peters' Federal Habeas Corpus Petition
On July 22, 2025, a hearing was set for Tina Peters' federal habeas corpus petition in the U.S. District Court of Colorado, where she argued for release on bond pending her appeal decision.
August 2025: Trump Warns of "Harsh Measures" if Peters Not Released
In August 2025, Donald Trump issued a social media statement warning that "harsh measures" would be imposed on Colorado if Tina Peters was not released.
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