The Model Rules explicitly disallow the type of defense she’s posing, I.e. “my boss told me it was OK!” She knows this, so she’s attempting to shift to a defense of innocent negligence (lack of diligence), rather than willful violations of law and ethics rules. Which, given she’s just agreed to be convicted of a crime or crimes, is going to be a tough defense to put up.
I believe Colorado will start separate bar/ethics proceedings now that’s she’s been newly convicted of a crime. She was not convicted when the CO Bar originally censured her, though the subject of the censure is largely the same.
TL;DR: She’s chock full of shit and hopes the CO Bar is going to punish her for a lack of diligence (which might be a lesser punishment) than for intentionally attempting to subvert an election.
Source: I’m a lawyer barred in two states. Kill me.
Disclaimer: take whatever I say with a massive grain of salt, I’m not your lawyer, I’m not barred in Colorado, etc.
Can she unilaterally pass a law like that? Serious question, I’m not at all familiar with the governmental and legislative process in Iceland.