Convicted MAGA election denier declines job in California amid stress from Newsom

Tina Peters, who served jail time for tampering with voting machines on behalf of the MAGA motion, has declined a job provide serving to to supervise elections in a conservative Northern California county.

“She declined the provide as a result of she’s operating across the nation proper now making an attempt to safe the elections,” Clint Curtis, the Shasta County registrar of voters, mentioned in an interview Tuesday. “Shasta County misplaced out.”

Final month, Curtis set off alarm bells throughout California by telling reporters he deliberate to rent Peters, a former county clerk in Colorado who was launched early from jail this summer time amid a stress marketing campaign by President Trump.

Curtis, himself a longtime election denier, informed The Occasions he had deliberate to rent Peters as a guide “to help with supervision of the November election.”

Peters’ legal professional, Peter Ticktin, mentioned in an interview Tuesday that she had given critical consideration to the job provide however that he had not mentioned it together with her in latest days. It might “not have been a full-time place,” as a result of she is so busy, he mentioned.

“There’s much more for her to do than get tied up in a single county,” Ticktin mentioned. “At this level, she is an American icon. I imply, give it some thought: How many individuals meet with the president of the US within the Oval Workplace?”

In California, speak of hiring Peters drew swift condemnation from Gov. Gavin Newsom and different Democratic lawmakers who vowed to combat her employment.

The public observation area at the Shasta County elections office in Redding.

On Monday, Newsom wrote in a sarcastic put up on X: “A convicted MAGA election tamperer working in an elections workplace. What may presumably go unsuitable?”

He added, in all caps: “TINA, NOT IN CALIFORNIA! ELECTION DENIER FELONS NOT WELCOME HERE!!!”

In a separate social media put up, the governor’s press workplace referred to as the job provide “a shame” and mentioned Newsom had directed corrections officers to “make each effort” to reject switch of her parole supervision into the state.

Peters isn’t supposed to go away Colorado with out permission from her parole officer, though she did go to Trump on the White Home.

Curtis referred to as the governor “loopy” and mentioned he was amused that Newsom — who has advocated for jail reform and rehabilitation for criminals — was targeted on Peters’ felony conviction.

“California is form of a second-chance state,” Curtis mentioned. “Aside from Tina Peters. No second probability for her in Shasta County.”

Peters, the previous clerk in Mesa County, Colo., was convicted in 2024 and sentenced to 9 years behind bars for breaching her county’s voting machines as a part of a scheme to indicate that the 2020 election was rigged in opposition to Trump, a declare that has been repeatedly debunked in courtroom.

She was discovered responsible of serving to an affiliate of MAGA conspiracy theorist and MyPillow founder Mike Lindell achieve unauthorized entry to Mesa County’s Dominion election gear in 2021 and make copies of its arduous drive earlier than and after a software program improve.

After months of haranguing from Trump, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, commuted Peters’ sentence. She was launched in June after serving lower than 1 / 4 of the 9 years.

In interviews with right-wing media, Curtis mentioned Peters basically would do the job of assistant registrar however can be introduced on as a guide to get across the county’s sluggish hiring course of.

Brent Turner, the Shasta County assistant registrar, mentioned his job was not open as a result of he had not give up. He informed The Occasions on Tuesday that he was glad Peters had declined his boss’ provide.

A man stands in an doorway near a sign: "Live election ballots present - please keep this door closed at all times."

“I’m glad that Gavin is paying consideration,” mentioned Turner, a Democrat from San Francisco and a longtime election reform activist who has pushed for non-proprietary open-source voting programs with software program code that may be examined by anybody.

Curtis handpicked Turner as his assistant final 12 months.

Final month, Curtis informed the hosts of “Jefferson State of Mine,” a radio present by leaders of the State of Jefferson secession motion, that Turner “bought sick on me” and that he hoped his assistant would “simply, like, retire on June 2 and go away and let me fill [the position], however he didn’t.”

Turner, who’s on medical depart, mentioned he had not given Curtis permission to talk publicly about his well being and that he had not spoken to his boss since Curtis started speaking about hiring Peters.

“It’s been aggravating and unlucky,” Turner mentioned. “However we’re undaunted, as election officers and staff. And the actual fact is, there’s work to be performed now, so the earlier we put this behind us, the higher.”

Curtis was appointed by the Shasta County Board of Supervisors final 12 months after two earlier registrars resigned. He might be out of workplace in January after dropping the June main to Joanna Francescut, a longtime assistant registrar whom he had fired.

Curtis has sequestered main ballots in a room within the elections workplace in Redding, sealing the doorways with locks and duct tape and telling reporters that the ballots didn’t look, really feel or odor proper.

Each Curtis and county officers — who’ve condemned his actions — have requested the FBI and different authorities to analyze.