Colorado Clerk Found Guilty of Election System Breach

Former Mesa County official pleads not guilty

Knisley testifies about Peters' actions before the breach

DENVER, Colo. (AP) - Former Colorado clerk Tina Peters, a hero to election deniers, was found guilty by a jury on most charges related to a security breach of Mesa County's election system. Peters, the former clerk of Mesa County, Colorado, and the state's most prominent 2020 election denier, was indicted last year in a breach of Mesa County's election system. She pleaded not guilty to the charges, which included attempting to influence public servants, identity theft, and criminal impersonation. The jury found Peters guilty on 10 of the 13 charges against her. The charges stem from an alleged scheme to breach the county's election system and copy sensitive election data. Peters has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that she was trying to investigate alleged election irregularities. The trial lasted for three weeks, and the jury deliberated for two days before reaching a verdict. Peters' attorneys said they plan to appeal the verdict. The case has been closely watched by election officials and experts across the country. It is one of the most high-profile prosecutions of an election official in recent years. The verdict is a victory for prosecutors, who argued that Peters' actions were a serious threat to the integrity of the election system. It is also a setback for election deniers, who have seized on Peters' case as evidence of widespread election fraud.