Federal Investigations Intensify Into Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold Over Alleged Election Misconduct
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold is now facing increasing scrutiny at the federal level for her role in the highly controversial prosecution of Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, a case that has reignited national concerns over election integrity and the politicization of law enforcement.
Griswold, once a rising star in Democrat circles and a former election attorney for President Obama, is now in the crosshairs of federal investigators who are reportedly examining whether her actions constituted a politically motivated abuse of power. According to legal filings and statements from officials, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has moved Peters’ case from its Civil Division to the Criminal Division, signaling a deeper and more serious inquiry into potential “weaponization of government.”
A recent DOJ “Statement of Interest” questioned whether the state’s aggressive prosecution of Peters was more about “inflicting political pain than pursuing justice.” That statement has set off alarm bells across Colorado’s political establishment and suggests that Griswold’s office may soon be required to account for its conduct on the national stage.
Griswold’s tenure has been riddled with controversy. Under her leadership, Colorado earned a reputation among critics as the “epicenter” of election manipulation—bolstered by decisions such as posting hundreds of active election system passwords online, a move widely condemned by cybersecurity professionals. Although a Colorado judge ruled that no election systems were compromised, concerns persist, especially after Griswold’s legal team attempted to disqualify expert testimony from Clay Parikh, one of America’s top forensic cyber analysts.
Adding to Griswold’s troubles is the DOJ’s recent demand that she turn over all election-related data and records to federal authorities for analysis. This comes alongside broader investigations into Chinese interference in the 2020 election, which reportedly involved systems and practices operating within Colorado.
Tina Peters, the embattled former Mesa County clerk, has long contended she was targeted for attempting to expose vulnerabilities in Dominion Voting Systems software. Her legal team has filed appeals citing Habeas Corpus violations and First Amendment suppression, alleging she was criminally punished for publicly questioning election processes.
Meanwhile, Rep. Abe Hamadeh has escalated the pressure by sending a formal letter to Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi highlighting deep concerns with Runbeck Election Systems—a company operating in over half of U.S. states, including Colorado. Griswold will likely be asked to explain her office’s relationship with Runbeck in the coming weeks.
Perhaps most damning is Griswold’s public attempt to justify her actions through social media, where she used Facebook to shape the narrative and deflect criticism. Critics argue this is a transparent effort to cover up what may be a pattern of systemic election misconduct and politically driven targeting.
With the Supreme Court having unanimously ruled in March 2024 to keep President Trump on Colorado’s ballot—rejecting a widely criticized effort led by Griswold—the national spotlight has already been fixed on her role in election controversies. Now, with DOJ and FBI investigators digging deeper, the stakes are rising quickly.
While official charges have yet to be filed, the tone of federal inquiries suggests that accountability may finally be approaching for what many view as one of the most egregious abuses of election authority in recent memory. As investigations unfold, Colorado may well become the first domino in a broader reckoning over election integrity and government overreach.
Griswold’s future in public service is growing more uncertain by the day. What began as a political crusade against Tina Peters could soon unravel into a historic scandal with national implications.