The Colorado Court of Appeals rejected the prosecution’s characterization of their post-argument filing as a typo correction. The Court will treat it as a new legal argument filed nine days after oral arguments concluded. The prosecution claims a 2021 statutory amendment classified Peters’ conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation solely as a class 6 felony—15 months of her sentence. Neither party raised this amendment during six months of briefing or at January 14 oral arguments. Judge Craig Welling told prosecutors he was “baffled” by their statutory interpretation. The Court stated the filing “is not an errata” but “more in the nature of a brief containing a supplemental argument.” If Peters can show the jury instructions relied on misdemeanor elements, the felony conviction may not survive. Peters’ attorneys have 14 days to respond.
Peters’ attorneys filed a sworn petition seeking bond pending appeal, claiming the January 18 prison incident marked her fifth assault at La Vista. The state appeal is Peters’ only remaining path after federal courts dismissed her habeas corpus petition. The Colorado Department of Corrections told media “no one was injured” and denied solitary confinement. Peters’ sworn declaration states the assailant lunged first and she blocked a punch before pushing back. Surveillance video shows Peters with hands around another inmate’s neck. The accounts contradict on injuries, confinement, who initiated the assault, and prior assaults. One account is false.
Rachel Suh will ask a Denver District Court judge February 5 to stop Colorado from accepting caucus results as ballot access to the primary. The Pagosa Springs activist argues private parties cannot certify public elections. Unaffiliated voters—49.7% of the electorate—remain locked out of caucuses. If granted, candidates who chose the caucus route would need to gather petition signatures before the March deadline. Caucuses begin March 3.
Attorney General Phil Weiser investigates Secretary of State Jena Griswold for campaign finance violations. Weiser faces 1,988 identical AI-analyzed disclosure violations. Griswold’s elections division investigates Weiser and Senate candidate Michael Bennet. All three face the same AI-generated complaints. The system designed to enforce campaign finance law cannot enforce it on the enforcers.
Griswold condemned the FBI’s January 28 seizure of Fulton County’s 2020 election records as “un-American.” Four years earlier, the FBI raided Tina Peters’ home at 6 a.m. in an investigation Griswold’s office initiated. Peters received nine years for unauthorized access to voting equipment. Griswold’s office exposed voting machine passwords for 34 counties for four months. No charges were filed.
Colorado regulators weigh a permit reversing 40 years and $150 million of Arkansas River Superfund cleanup. CJK Milling changed processing methods three times in 13 months. Sunday’s comment deadline determines Lake County’s legal standing. The permit threatens 510 wells and the Gold Medal fishery. EPA remains silent.
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