Prohibition of evidence introduction in Tina Peters Prosecution (CO)

At trial, the court excluded evidence of Tina Peters’ asserted statutory duty to preserve federal election records under 52 U.S.C. § 20701, her claimed belief that the May 2021 “Trusted Build” software installation would destroy those records, and her motive for arranging the forensic imaging of Mesa County’s Dominion election equipment server. The trial court also refused Peters’ requested jury instruction on the “execution of public duty” affirmative defense under § 18-1-701, C.R.S., which would have asked the jury to consider whether her actions were required or authorized by law. Peters argued on appeal that these rulings collectively deprived her of a meaningful opportunity to present a complete defense.