In Colorado, former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters was sentenced to nine years in prison for crimes she committed in the wake of the 2020 election, as she peddled false claims about rigged voting machines following Donald Trump’s loss. District Judge Matthew Barrett castigated Peters as he handed down her sentence last Thursday.

Judge Matthew Barrett: “You are no hero. You abused your position. And you’re a charlatan who used, and is still using, your prior position in office to peddle a snake oil that’s been proven to be junk, time and time again.”

Since last week’s sentencing, Judge Barrett and court staff report they have received threats. Tina Peters is the first election official to be convicted of criminal charges for attempting to overturn the 2020 election based on right-wing conspiracy theories.