Former US President Donald Trump has ramped up pressure on Colorado's Democratic leadership to release Tina Peters, the former Mesa County clerk currently serving a prison sentence for election-related crimes. In a fiery social media post, Trump portrayed the 70-year-old as an unjustly persecuted "elderly woman" and "cancer survivor," escalating a contentious legal and political battle.
Trump's Blistering Attack and the Legal Reality
Taking to his Truth Social platform, Trump launched a sharp critique against Colorado Governor Jared Polis, demanding Peters' immediate freedom. He accused Polis of being a "SLEAZEBAG" Governor who refuses to release a woman convicted for "trying to stop Democrats from stealing Colorado Votes." Trump claimed Peters was merely preserving election records as required by federal law.
Trump's post stated she has served over a year of her nine-year sentence and has eight years remaining. He ended with a rallying cry: "FREE TINA!" This intervention follows months of lobbying by Trump's allies, despite a clear legal limitation: a US President holds no pardon power over state convictions.
The Crimes and the Colorado Stance
Tina Peters was convicted last year on state charges for her role in a scheme to breach Mesa County's voting systems. The aim was to find evidence supporting Trump's baseless claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election. She is now serving her nine-year term at a women's prison in Pueblo, Colorado.
Colorado officials have firmly rejected any notion of releasing Peters or transferring her case. The state's Attorney General, Phil Weiser, called any attempt to circumvent Colorado law "outrageous." Officials consistently highlight that Peters' prosecution was led by Republican attorneys and that her actions compromised election security. They maintain there is no evidence of significant cheating in Colorado's elections, which are considered among the nation's most secure.
Political Symbolism and What Comes Next
Trump's embrace of Peters' case has turned her into a rallying cry and a symbol of alleged election misconduct for his political base. His Truth Social post also took a broader swipe at Governor Polis's leadership, controversially referencing "Tren de Aragua" – a violent Venezuelan criminal gang – to imply Colorado has become unsafe under Democratic governance. State law enforcement has not reported any significant presence of this gang in Colorado.
Peters is currently appealing her conviction, but her chances for early release appear slim. Governor Polis and other state leaders insist her sentence must follow the full course of the law. Meanwhile, Trump and his advisers are expected to continue using her case as a political tool, despite having no direct authority to alter the legal outcome.
