The U.S. Division of Justice will evaluation Colorado’s prosecution of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters in a seek for “abuses of the legal justice procedure,” in keeping with court docket paperwork.
Peters was once sentenced in October to 8 and a part years in jail and 6 months in prison after she used anyone else’s safety badge to provide a person affiliated with My Pillow leader government Mike Lindell, a outstanding election denier, get entry to to the Mesa County election machine in an unsuccessful seek for voter fraud.
Division of Justice officers mentioned “cheap issues” have been raised about Peters’ case, together with the period of her sentence, alleged First Modification violations and being denied bail pending attraction, in keeping with a observation of hobby filed Monday in federal court docket.
The previous clerk additionally informed federal officers she suffers from well being problems and each her bodily and psychological well being have deteriorated whilst incarcerated, in keeping with the record.
The evaluation, which federal officers mentioned will evaluation whether or not Peters’ prosecution was once “orientated extra towards causing political ache than towards pursuing exact justice or official govt targets,” cites President Donald Trump’s government order for “Finishing the Weaponization of the Federal Govt.”
Trump can’t pardon Peters as a result of she was once convicted on state fees.
A Colorado jury discovered Peters accountable in August on 3 counts of making an attempt to persuade a public servant, one depend of conspiracy to dedicate legal impersonation, one depend of first-degree authentic misconduct, one depend of violation of responsibility and one depend of failing to conform to the secretary of state necessities, in keeping with court docket information.
She was once discovered now not accountable on further fees of identification robbery, conspiracy to dedicate legal impersonation and legal impersonation.
At her sentencing in October, District Pass judgement on Matthew Barrett sparred with Peters for proceeding to push discredited claims about rigged vote casting machines and informed her she by no means took her process severely.
“I’m satisfied you can do it in every single place once more if it is advisable. You’re as defiant as any defendant this court docket has ever noticed,” Barrett informed her. “You’re no hero. You abused your place and also you’re a charlatan.”
Barrett and Grand Junction courthouse body of workers gained a couple of threats that have been vetted by means of regulation enforcement whilst additional safety was once equipped.
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