Welcome one again to the Colorado Times Recorder’s weekly roundup of stories pertaining to political extremism. This week we are highlighting protests spearheaded by some members of the Colorado GOP to free Tina Peters, the former Mesa County official who was found guilty on numerous charges to undermine election safety. We are featuring reporting by Megan Neary who covered the protest itself and an article by Erik Maulbetsch who looks into the United States Department of Justice interceding on Peters’ behalf.
Check out the latest episode of Fever Swamp Review podcast, where reporter Heidi Beedle does a deep dive into the recent Leadership Program of the Rockies retreat. Finally, we wanted to highlight an article from Colorado Public Radio’s Matt Moret on threats made against Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold. Griswold’s office, while prone to scandal, has been a target by some conservatives for some time now.
Last Saturday, a group of protesters demonstrated in Fort Collins where they held signs claiming that Tina Peters, the former Mesa County Clerk who was convicted on a slew of charges of trying to undermine election safety, was innocent. Peters was convicted of a variety of charges including attempting to influence a public servant, conspiracy to commit impersonation, first-degree official misconduct, violation of duty, and failure to comply with the Secretary of State. In attendance were Colorado Republican Party officials and former candidates, like Darcy Schoening and Trent Leisy, all claiming that Peters’ trial was unjust and that she “exposed election fraud”. There is no evidence that suggests that the 2020 election in Mesa County was ‘rigged’. The Mesa County District Attorney, a Republican who investigated these claims, did not uncover “any evidence to suggest that the vote count for both elections was not complete or proper.
Election Deniers Celebrate Dept. of Justice Intervention in Tina Peters’ Bail Request
On Monday, the Department of Justice intervened on Tina Peters’ bail request. Peters, who is serving a nine-year sentence for election-related felonies, submitted a writ of habeas corpus in February that would release her on bond while the appeal is being heard. Yaakov Roth, the acting assistant attorney general in the civil division, asked the magistrate judge overseeing the case for “prompt and careful consideration” of Peters’ request. The intervention was celebrated by other prominent conservatives who have denied the results of the 2020 election, such as Joe Oltmann and Mike Lindell. Oltmann, a right-wing podcaster, continues to assert that the charges brought against Peters were an example of political prosecution, although the Mesa County district attorney who tried Peters was a Republican. Some Peters and Colorado GOP officials gathered outside of the Larimer County Jail on Saturday protesting the former county clerk being forced to serve out her sentence.
Fever Swamp Review: Inside LPR 2025
CTR reporter Heidi Beedle does a dive into the Leadership Program of the Rockies retreat, an annual libertarian/conservative training program. LPR alumni have been elected to positions on school boards and the state legislature. Heidi goes into the program and this year’s roster and looks into the various names and figures you may recognize from conservative politics in Colorado.
Colorado Public Radio: Florida man sentenced to prison for threatening Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold
A man from Tampa, Florida was sentenced to prison for making repeated threats towards Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold and other elected officials. Richard Glenn Kantwell received more than two years in prison and must pay more than $10,000 in fines. Kantwell pleaded guilty in November to four counts of interstate transmission of a threat. The DOJ said that Kantwell sent more than 100 threatening emails in late 2019/early 2020 to several people “based on their political commentary”. The threats made against Griswold stemmed from her office’s involvement in the legal battle over Trump’s disqualification from the state primary ballot.
