The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Sept. 11, 2025

Did the dog catch the car?  We have election denier legal trouble involving voting dogs, former election officials claiming they’re political prisoners, and 2020 fake electors who claim they didn’t know what they were doing was wrong. 

A Costa Mesa, CA woman trying to demonstrate mail-in voter fraud was arraigned September 9th for fraudulently registering her dog Maya to vote, then casting a mail ballot in two elections in 2022.  Laura Lee Yourex self-reported her scheme in 2024, and posted a picture of Maya with an “I Voted” sticker.  She faces up to six years in prison.

Bridge Michigan reports that a circuit court judge dismissed felony charges against Michigan’s GOP fake electors Sept. 2nd.   The judge ruled the state failed to prove the electors knew that signing and sending the alternative presidential slate of electors to the U.S. Senate was illegal.  Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessell has not ruled out an appeal.

Colorado Newsline reports that Mesa County clerk Tina Peters, convicted by a jury of four felonies relating to tampering with her county’s election machines, filed a federal habeas corpus claim in federal court asking to be released on bond pending appeal. Her attorney calls Peters a “political prisoner.”  The state argues the federal government doesn’t have jurisdiction and the case should be dismissed.

We have links to the local reporting at  AmericanDemocracyminute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Orange County District Attorney’s Office – Costa Mesa Woman Charged with Five Felonies for Illegally Registering Her Dog to Vote, Casting Mail-in Ballots Sent to Dog in Two Elections
American Democracy Minute – In Michigan, State AG Charges 16 Fake Electors, Voting Machine Tampering Case Moves Forward
Bridge Michigan – Michigan false electors case dismissed, Nessel not ruling out appeal
American Democracy Minute – CO Election Official Tina Peters Got 9 Years for Tampering with Election Machines to Prove the Big Lie.  Trump is Trying to Set Her Free.
Colorado Newsline –  Colorado AG asks court to dismiss Tina Peters’ habeas corpus petition 
The Daily Sentinel – Prosecution reiterates claim Tina Peters is ineligible for release

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State

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Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

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#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Colorado #TinaPeters #Michigan #FakeElectors #California #ElectionDeniers 

The post Voting Dogs, Habeas Corpus and Fake Electors:  Updates on Election Deniers and Their Legal Jeopardy appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Aug. 27, 2025

We have updates on two stories we brought you last year, as President Donald Trump attempts to get convicted Colorado county clerk Tina Peters released, and Elon Musk faces a class action suit over alleged empty promises made to swing state petition signers.

Former clerk Tina Peters was found guilty on four felony charges and additional misdemeanors by 12 Mesa County jurors for giving unauthorized access to the county’s Dominion Voting Systems tabulators to two conspiracy theory activists in 2020.  Peters was sentenced to nine years in prison last year.  

Trump wrote August 20th on Truth Social, “Let Tina Peters out of jail, RIGHT NOW. She did nothing wrong, except catching the Democrats cheat in the Election. She is an old woman, and very sick. If she is not released, I am going to take harsh measures!!!” UNQUOTE.   Peters was convicted by a jury under Colorado state law, and there is little Trump can do to free her.  

A Texas judge refused to dismiss a class-action lawsuit by swing state voters who signed Elon Musk’s America PAC petition, thinking they were entered into a daily random drawing for $1 million dollars.  They claim they were defrauded because the money was instead given to others based on their suitability as “spokespersons.”   

Trial is scheduled in early 2027.

We have the links to our past stories and local reporting at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute – CO Election Official Tina Peters Got 9 Years for Tampering with Election Machines to Prove the Big Lie.  Trump is Trying to Set Her Free.
American Democracy Minute – Wisconsin AG Appeals to State Supreme Court to Block Elon Musk’s Million Dollar Lottery for WI GOP Voters – Oops – Make that ‘Spokesmen’
Colorado Newsline – (2024) Tina Peters, former Mesa County clerk, sentenced to 9 years in prison over voting systems breach
Colorado Newsline – Trump threatens ‘harsh measures’ in another call for Tina Peters’ release

Huffington Post – Elon Musk Must Face Lawsuit For Duping Trump Supporters In $1 Million Giveaways
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas – Ruling in McAferty  v. Musk

Groups Taking Action:

Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, Common Cause,  Public Citizen, States United Democracy Center, Issue One

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX
Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Colorado #ElonMusk #AmericaPAC #TinaPeters #DonaldTrump 

The post President Trump Agitates for Release of Convicted Colorado Election Clerk Tina Peters; Federal Judge Won’t Dismiss Class Action Suit Against Elon Musk appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for June 17, 2025

May 12th, the U.S. Department of Justice reportedly requested ALL the State of Colorado’s records relating to the 2024 federal election, and the preservation of records related to the 2020 election.  The request may relate to President Trump’s effort to free a convicted Colorado election official. 

The records request is massive.  In Nov. 2024, there were 4.65 million registered Colorado voters, 3.3 million of whom cast ballots in the presidential election.  Then consider the records from every electronic ballot tabulator, precinct reports, county reports, machine testing readouts, voter registration and verification documents for each voter, and other documents.  Colorado’s Secretary of State Jena Griswold told NPR, “What they’re going to do with all this data, I don’t know. But I’m sure they will use it to push their ridiculous disinformation and lies to the American public,” she said.

There is speculation that it may be related to convicted Mesa County elections official Tina Peters, sentenced to 9 years for giving voting machine access to conspiracy theorists tied to MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell.   The week before the Colorado records request, DOJ was directed by President Trump to, QUOTE “take all necessary action to help secure the release” of Peters. 

To date, Colorado has reportedly provided two copies of its master voter files to DOJ, and its 2024 voter history file.  DOJ has not commented on the request.

We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

American Democracy Minute – (2024) Colorado Supreme Court Rules Trump was a “Officer of the United States” Participating in Insurrection, and Bars Him from the State’s Ballot.  A SCOTUS Challenge is Likely.
American Democracy Minute – (2024) CO Election Official Tina Peters Got 9 Years for Tampering with Election Machines to Prove the Big Lie.  Trump is Trying to Set Her Free.
NPR – Trump’s DOJ makes its most sweeping demand for election data yet
Colorado Public Radio – Colorado election officials react to federal request for voter data, eye political motives
9 News Denver – DOJ demands Colorado election data

Colorado Sun – Federal request for Colorado voter data seems motivated by politics, election officials say

Groups Taking Action:

Common Cause CO, States United Democracy Center, Issue One 

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ElectionDeniers #TinaPeters #USDOJ #Colorado

The post U.S. DOJ Demands State of Colorado Turn Over Massive Number of 2024 Election Records. It Could be an Attempt to Prove Conspiracy Theories. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for June 5, 2025

We’ve been revisiting election denial hotspots this week, five years after the 2020 election. Monday, June 9th, a civil trial begins against My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell, accused of defaming former Dominion Voting Systems election security expert, Dr. Eric Coomer. 

Coomer, former director of product strategy and security for Dominion, found himself accused in a conspiracy theory claiming Coomer admitted rigging the election, and his life was threatened.  Broadcasters, podcasters, Lindell and others allegedly repeated the claim, resulting in Coomer bringing five suits, two in Denver district court, and three in federal district court.  Dominion itself settled with Fox News for $787.5 million dollars. 

Two defendants, far right broadcasters OAN and NewsMax, settled their cases with Coomer.  Others tried to use Colorado’s statute giving courts the power to dismiss meritless defamation cases where defendants prove they were exercising free speech.  So far, the courts have found for Coomer, and his cases were allowed to go forward.  

Lindell told The Bulwark that he would be taking the stand in his defense.  The witness list also reportedly includes former Mesa County, Colorado Clerk, Tina Peters, convicted of giving unauthorized access to the county’s Dominion Voting Systems electronic ballot tabulators to investigators tied to Lindell.   

Lindell told a DC federal court in April he could not afford judgement in the case he lost to voting systems company Smartmatic.  

We have more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources: 

Colorado Public Radio – (2020)  Election Conspiracy Theorists Focused On One Man In Colorado. His Life Will Never Be The Same
American Democracy Minute – (2023) Judge Rules Fox News Lied About Dominion Voting Systems Being Linked to Fraud; Sends Case to Jury Trial
Colorado Public Radio – (2023) Former Dominion Voting employee waits for his day(s) in court on multiple suits
Colorado Public Radio – (2024) Former Dominion employee defamation suit against Trump campaign can continue, court says
Courthouse News Service – (2025) Colorado appeals court greenlights Dominion Voting defamation claims against conservative radio host
The Bulwark – Mike Lindell Is Texting Me From His Defamation Trial
Colorado Politics – My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell defamation trial starts in Denver

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #MyPillow #MikeLindell #ElectionDeniers #DominionVotingSystems

The post Civil Trial Against My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell Starts June 9 for Allegedly Defaming Former Dominion Voting Systems Exec appeared first on American Democracy Minute.

The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 9, 2025

In August 2024, a jury convicted Mesa County, Colorado election official Tina Peters for tampering with her county’s voting machines in 2020, and allowing election deniers access to them.  Disregarding the breach of “election integrity”, President Donald Trump is now trying to set her free. 

Peters was found guilty on four felony charges and additional misdemeanors by 12 Mesa County jurors for giving unauthorized access to the county’s Dominion Voting Systems tabulators to two conspiracy theory activists.  Those activists were associated with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and election data was copied and later turned up online.  

While President Trump has long talked about preserving election integrity, in March, he ordered the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the Peters prosecution, which it said in a court filing it was investigating, “abuses of the criminal justice process.”  Then May 5th, Trump posted on Truth Social, “Colorado must end this unjust incarceration of an innocent American.  I am hereby directing the Department of Justice to help secure the release of this “hostage” being held in a Colorado prison by Democrats, for political reasons.”  

Because Peters was convicted in a state court, Trump has no power to pardon her, but could appeal in federal court or withhold federal funding to the state.   Election integrity, indeed. 

We’ve linked to more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org.  I’m Brian Beihl.  

Today’s Links

Articles & Resources:

Colorado Newsline – (2021) ‘Serious breach’ of voting security at center of investigation of Mesa County clerk’s office
American Democracy Minute – Colorado Election Official Who Allowed 2020 Conspiracy Theory Activists Access to County Voting Machine Data Found Guilty
Colorado Newsline – Tina Peters, former Mesa County clerk, guilty on 7 counts 
Colorado Newsline – Trump Justice Department conducting ‘review’ of Colorado’s Tina Peters prosecution

President Donald Trump – Truth Social post to ‘FREE TINA PETERS’
Denver ABC 7 – Jena Griswold says Trump is ‘weaponizing the Department of Justice’ in Tina Peters case

Groups Taking Action:

Common Cause CO, States United Democracy Center, Issue One

Register or Check Your Voter Registration:

U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State

Please follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! 

Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org

Want ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!

Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network’s Audioport and PRX

#Democracy  #DemocracyNews #ProtectElections #BigLie #FreeTinaPeters #TinaPeters #DonaldTrump

The post CO Election Official Tina Peters Got 9 Years for Tampering with Election Machines to Prove the Big Lie.  Trump is Trying to Set Her Free. appeared first on American Democracy Minute.