Tina Peters, Mike Lindell Ally Facing Election Tampering Claims, Arrested Again

Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Tina Peters was arrested in Colorado on Tuesday after she reportedly resisted attempts by law enforcement officers to confiscate her iPad.

Peters, a Republican, allegedly recorded part of a court hearing on Monday involving her former chief deputy clerk, Belinda Knisley, who was suspended by the county last year on allegations of workplace misconduct.

The arrest is unrelated to separate investigations of Peters over her alleged role in a breach of election system security as well as ethics complaints against her.

Peters is also facing an investigation by the Colorado secretary of state's office and the state's Independent Ethics Commission because she accepted a flight on MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell's private plane in order to attend a symposium he was hosting in August, 2021.

Lindell has been a prominent proponent of unfounded claims that the 2020 presidential election suffered from widespread fraud.

Peters was arrested at a bagel shop in Grand Junction, Colorado on Tuesday morning and was then released pending charges.

According to a police search warrant, officers were trying to obtain Peters' iPad to review data "believed to have been created, viewed, accessed, modified, deleted, downloaded or saved" between 1 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. on Monday.

It is alleged that Peters may have recorded part of a court proceeding despite signs stating that recording was prohibited and that she may have lied to the presiding judge about any recording.

During the court hearing, a paralegal and a deputy district attorney said they had seen Peters recording and Mesa County district attorney Dan Rubenstein informed the judge.

A spokesperson for the Tina Peters Legal Defense Fund told Colorado Politics that Peters complied with the warrant and produced the iPad but that police then attempted to confiscate other property not listed on the warrant, including her car keys. Peters' attorneys were considering their response to the incident, according to the spokesperson.

"The search warrant presented listed exactly one item, an iPad with a white case. Clerk Peters complied with that, then officers began attempting to take other items of personal property, not listed in the warrant including her car keys, which is illegal," Peters' defense fund told Colorado Public Radio.

Peters' arrest was captured on video by a witness and shared to Twitter. The video shows Peters trying to pull away from officers and saying: "Let go of me" as they try to handcuff her.

"Let go of me, let go of me. It hurts. Let go of me, give me my keys," Peters said on the video and then appeared to try and kick one of the officers.

"Do not kick, do you understand?" the officer can be heard to say. Peters was eventually led away amid shouting.

Police were seeking the iPad as part of potential charges against Peters for attempting to influence a public servant, according to a probable cause affidavit attached to the search warrant.

Peters' arrest is not related to other ongoing investigations of the Republican. A Grand Jury is currently considering allegations of tampering with Mesa County election equipment and misconduct.

The county clerk is accused of allowing an unauthorized person to make copies of voting machine hard drives. Information from those hard drives, including passwords, later appeared online. She denies any wrongdoing.

The Colorado secretary of state is seeking to have Peters barred from overseeing the 2022 elections.

According to the Tina Peters Legal Defense Fund's website, Peters became "deeply concerned about the security of the last election" after "hundreds of citizens brought her their experiences of significant election irregularities."

The secretary of state's office and the Independent Ethics Commission are also investigating whether the flights and accommodation Mike Lindell paid for last year exceeded the $65 cap on gifts that Colorado officials are allowed to receive. Peters denied through her attorney that she had violated Colorado's ethics requirements.

Another complaint alleges Peters has been raising money for a legal defense fund that does not comply with the state's ethics laws.

Newsweek has asked the Tina Peters Legal Defense Fund for comment.