Trump Demands Release of Colorado Election Denier Tina Peters
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A demand for the release of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, currently serving a nine-year sentence for election tampering, was issued by former President Donald Trump on Wednesday night, escalating the ongoing debate surrounding election integrity and presidential pardons. The call for Peters’ freedom follows the rejection of a request from the Trump administration to gain federal custody of the convicted official.
Trump’s intervention underscores his continued focus on individuals involved in challenging the results of the 2020 presidential election. Peters, 70, was convicted of carrying out a security breach related to her county’s election equipment, actions authorities say were intended to advance unsubstantiated election conspiracy theories.
Trump’s Claims and Attacks on Colorado Governor
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump leveled harsh criticism at Colorado Governor Jared Polis, referring to him as a “SLEAZEBAG” and accusing him of unjustly keeping Peters incarcerated. According to the post, Trump asserted, “The SLEAZEBAG Governor of Colorado, Jared Polis, refuses to allow an elderly woman, Tina Peters, who was unfairly convicted of what the Democrats do, cheating on Elections, out of jail!”
The former president falsely claimed Peters was “convicted for trying to stop Democrats from stealing Colorado Votes in the Election.” He further contended that Peters was merely “preserving Election Records, which she was obligated to do under Federal Law,” despite evidence presented during her trial demonstrating the security breach was not legally justified. Trump also attacked Polis’s leadership, calling him a “lightweight Governor” who has “allowed his State to go to hell…[and] should be ashamed of himself.” He concluded his post with a direct plea: “FREE TINA!”
It is important to note that Peters has only served one year of her nine-year sentence. As of Thursday, Governor Polis has not issued a public response to Trump’s statements.
Context: Recent Pardons and Federal vs. State Jurisdiction
Trump’s demand for Peters’ release arrives less than a month after he granted pardons to 77 individuals, including several key allies implicated in a scheme to submit a false slate of electors from key swing states in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. Among those pardoned were prominent figures from Trump’s legal team – Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, and Sidney Powell – as well as former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
The president’s clemency order was initially announced on X (formerly Twitter) by U.S. Pardon Attorney Ed Martin. When a user inquired about Peters’ absence from the pardon list, Martin responded, “We are working on it!” However, it is crucial to understand that presidential pardons apply exclusively to federal cases. Peters was convicted by a state court in Colorado, rendering her ineligible for a presidential pardon at this time.
This situation highlights the jurisdictional limitations of presidential power and the complexities surrounding attempts to intervene in state-level legal proceedings. The ongoing saga surrounding Tina Peters and Donald Trump’s response serves as a potent reminder of the lingering divisions and contested narratives surrounding the 2020 election.
