Tina Peters election tampering case under DOJ review

Driving the news: A top Justice Department attorney in the civil division filed a statement of interest in Peters' federal appeal noting the agency will evaluate the prosecution and sentencing to determine whether it was "oriented more toward inflicting political pain than toward pursuing actual justice or legitimate governmental objectives."

• Yaakov Roth, the acting assistant attorney general for the Justice Department's civil division, expressed concern about the judge's "exceptionally lengthy" nine-year prison sentence and denial of bail while the conviction is appealed.

Catch up quick: Last October, Colorado District Court Judge Matthew Barrett, an appointee of the Democratic governor, imposed the sentence after a jury found Peters guilty on seven of 10 counts, including four felonies, related to her role in illegally accessing and copy voting records after the 2020 election.

• She faced up to 20 years in prison

Reality check: The DOJ cannot overturn the state conviction, but it's move to intercede is noteworthy and may boost Peters federal appeal.

The other side: Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubinstein, a Republican, told the New York Times the filing was a surprise. "I am happy to have a conversation with anybody in the administration as to the motivations and expectations that our community had when they overwhelmingly wanted me to bring this criminal action," he added.