Keith Coffman

DENVER, CO (Reuters) – A Colorado grand jury indicted a Republican clerk and her deputy in connection to multiple felony offenses related to an election security breach at her office. The incident occurred when voting equipment passwords were published on a right-wing site.

Tina Peters (66), who holds the position of recorder and clerk in Mesa County, is facing a total 10 criminal charges. These include identity theft and criminal impersonation.

Belinda Knisley (her deputy clerk) was accused of trying to influence public servants, violating duties, and failing to follow the secretary of states.

Peters was an ex-supporter of Donald Trump and a promoter of the false claim of widespread election fraud in 2020. Trump supporters make unsubstantiated claims about voting hardware and software being used in some form of fraud.

Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat, ordered an investigation after images of Mesa County’s election equipment passwords were posted on the blog last year.

This alleged breach occurred during an update of computer software in 2021. It did not include any electoral or voting irregularities. After the investigation, Griswold removed the equipment from certification and went to court to stop Peters’ supervision of the upcoming elections.

The pair “devised and executed a deceptive scheme which was designed to influence public servants, breach security protocols, exceed permissible access to voting equipment, and set in motion the eventual distribution of confidential information to unauthorized people,” the indictment said.

According to court records, arrest warrants for Peters & Knisley were issued. It is unclear, however, if Peters & Knisley have been taken into custody and booked as of Wednesday afternoon.

Peters did not reply to an email requesting comment.

Griswold’s response prompted Peters to announce last month that she is running in the Republican primary in a bid to unseat Griswold as the state’s top election official.