Republican Election Tampering: National Consequences

Posted onAuthorDavid Lentz

[OPINION AND ANALYSIS]

State elections can greatly impact federal ones.  In this case, below are examples of local lower level elected officials having a major effect on elections that have national implications.  In this case, elections involving Donald Trump.  What follows is in addition to those instances, found in Special Prosecutor Jack Smith’s reports and motions, where Donald Trump or his lieutenants have called elected state officials in an unlawful attempt to come up with a different election result in favor of Donald Trump.

We inquired to ChatGPT 5 to identify Republican state officials and/or employees who’ve been charged and/or convicted and/or gotten into some type of problem over election tampering.  Below is/are the results. WE HAVE NOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFIED WHAT FOLLOWS, so readers should not assume that what follows is true.  However, it would be a good place to start in doing any research.  Please let us know if there are any mistakes and we will promptly correct them

 

  • Tina Peters (Mesa County, Colorado Clerk & Recorder)

    • Peters was convicted in August 2024 on multiple charges (including felonies) related to unauthorized access of election systems, tampering with voting machines, and other election‐related misconduct. Wikipedia+2PBS+2

    • In October 2024, she was sentenced to 9 years in prison. PBS+3ABC News+3Wikipedia+3

    • She has been widely described as the first U.S. election official convicted of crimes stemming from efforts to overturn or challenge the 2020 election based on conspiracy theories. Wikipedia+1

    • Related article: “Republican election denier Tina Peters sentenced to 9 years in prison for voting data scheme” (PBS) PBS

    • Also see: “Former Colorado county clerk sentenced to 9 years for voting machine breach” (Reuters) Reuters

    • The Department of Justice has also reviewed (or is reviewing) her conviction. The Guardian

  • Michigan Township Clerk Charged (2024)

    • A Republican township clerk in Michigan was charged with multiple felonies for allegedly trying to tamper with voting machines, in connection with efforts by Trump supporters to cast doubt on the 2020 election. Reuters

    • (I did not find a final conviction or removal in that instance in publicly reported sources, as of the last updates.)

  • Kimberly Zapata (Milwaukee, Wisconsin, former Deputy Director, Election Commission)

    • She was found guilty by a jury in March 2024 of election fraud and misconduct in public office. The charges centered on her use of fake names to request military absentee ballots using her work computer, which were then sent to the homes of Republican legislators promoting election conspiracies. WPR

    • While not a county clerk, her role was as a local election official (deputy director) in election administration.

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Republican Election Officials Convicted, Charged, or Removed Over Trump-Related Election Tampering

In recent years, several Republican election officials and local clerks have faced legal consequences for actions tied to Donald Trump’s false claims of election fraud. Some have been convicted and sentenced, while others were charged, recalled, or barred from carrying out their duties. Below is a roundup of the most notable cases.

Convicted or Pled Guilty

  • Tina Peters (R), Mesa County Clerk & Recorder, Colorado
    Convicted in August 2024 for breaching election equipment security. In October 2024 she was sentenced to 9 years in prison. Peters is widely described as the first U.S. election official convicted of crimes stemming directly from Trump-allied election conspiracies.
    Sources: ABC News, Reuters, PBS, The Guardian.

  • Peggy Judd (R), Cochise County Supervisor, Arizona
    In October 2024, Judd pled guilty to a misdemeanor for refusing to perform the duty of an election officer after she delayed certification of the 2022 election. She received probation and a fine.
    Sources: AP, Arizona Republic.

  • Belinda Knisley, Mesa County Deputy Clerk, Colorado
    Pled guilty in August 2022 to misdemeanors for her role in the Mesa County breach under Clerk Peters. She agreed to testify against her former boss.
    Source: CPR News.

  • Sandra Brown, Mesa County Elections Manager, Colorado
    Pled guilty in November 2022 to a felony and misdemeanor counts tied to the same breach. She too agreed to testify.
    Source: Colorado Sun.

Charged, Recalled, or Stripped of Duties

  • Tom Crosby (R), Cochise County Supervisor, Arizona
    Facing felony charges for conspiring to delay 2022 election certification. His trial is scheduled for early 2025.
    Source: Associated Press.

  • Stephanie Scott (R), Adams Township Clerk, Michigan
    Stripped of election duties in 2021 after refusing to update election equipment and citing conspiracy claims. She was recalled by voters in 2023 and formally charged with felonies in 2024 for tampering with election systems.
    Sources: Reuters, Detroit News.

  • Stan Grot (R), Shelby Township Clerk, Michigan
    Barred in July 2023 from administering elections after being tied to the Trump “fake elector” scheme in Michigan.
    Source: Detroit Free Press.

Removed from Office

  • Couy Griffin (R), Otero County Commissioner, New Mexico
    Removed from office in September 2022 under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment (“insurrectionist disqualification clause”) for his participation in the January 6th Capitol attack. He had also voted to block certification of the 2022 primary until forced by the New Mexico Supreme Court. In 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court declined his appeal.
    Sources: NPR, The Guardian.

Related Election Office Breaches

Closing Note

These cases highlight how Trump’s baseless election fraud narrative not only divided voters but also led some local Republican election officials into criminal liability, removal, or disgrace. While not exhaustive, this list captures the most significant examples where election tampering claims and actions had legal consequences.