Curtis’s Offer to Tina Peters

Tina Peters, recently released from prison for tampering with voting machines, has refused a job in Northern California. Clint Curtis, a longtime election denier and Shasta County’s registrar of voters, intended to hire Peters as a consultant for the November election.

Peters’ attorney, Peter Ticktin, mentioned that the job would not have been full-time due to her busy schedule. Tina is seen as an influential figure by some, with Ticktin highlighting her meeting with former President Trump.

Governor Newsom’s Reaction

California Governor Gavin Newsom and other Democratic lawmakers quickly opposed the idea. Newsom expressed his disapproval on social media, emphasizing that election denier felons are unwelcome in the state. Newsom’s office deemed the job offer a disgrace and worked to prevent her parole transfer to California.

Tina Peters’ Background

Peters served part of a nine-year sentence for helping a MAGA conspiracy theorist access election equipment to dispute the 2020 results. Despite evidence disproving these claims, her sentence was commuted by Colorado’s governor, and she was released early.

Disputed Hiring Procedures

Curtis proposed hiring Peters as a consultant. This move circumvented the county’s hiring processes, especially since Brent Turner, the assistant registrar, hadn’t vacated his position.

Turner, who was chosen by Curtis last year, didn’t approve of Curtis discussing his health publicly. He expressed that the hiring discussions were aggravating amidst ongoing election duties.

Current Developments in Shasta County

Curtis, appointed last year by Shasta County’s supervisors, will end his term in January. He lost the primary to Joanna Francescut, a former assistant registrar he dismissed. Curtis’ unusual handling of ballots, including sealing them in the elections office with locks and duct tape, has drawn criticism and prompted requests for an FBI investigation.