President Donald Trump is calling for the release of a former Colorado county clerk who is serving a nine-year prison sentence for allowing the breach of a voting data system. Tina Peters was found guilty of compromising election equipment in an attempt to prove President Trump’s lie that the 2020 election was rigged.
“FREE TINA PETERS, a brave and innocent Patriot who has been tortured by Crooked Colorado politicians, including the big Mail-In Ballot supporting the governor of the State,” Trump wrote 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!!!”
It is unclear what Trump means by “harsh measures.” Trump cannot pardon her because she was convicted on state, not federal, charges.
The Trump administration could pursue an immigration crackdown in Colorado and seek to file criminal charges against state officials who don’t cooperate with federal immigration officers. Attorney General Pam Bondi demanded that the state and the city of Denver repeal laws that prohibit cooperation. She said those who don’t make changes may be subject to criminal charges.
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What did Tina Peters do?
According to Colorado Newsline, Peters allowed an election conspiracy theorist to pose as a county employee during a software build with Dominion Voting Systems. She then let the software and election data be copied, and it was subsequently posted online.
A jury in Mesa County found her guilty of seven of the ten charges filed against her:
- Three felony counts of attempting to impersonate a public servant
- One felony count of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation
- One misdemeanor county of official misconduct
- One misdemeanor count of violation of duty in elections
- One misdemeanor count of failure to comply with the secretary of state
At sentencing, the judge said she did “immeasurable damage” to local elections and trust in the electoral system. The judge also said she showed no remorse and was convinced she would do it all over again if she could.
“You betrayed your oath,” Judge Matthew Barrett said.
What’s the current status of Peters’ case?
Peters recently filed a habeas corpus petition in federal district court, asking to be released on bond while she appeals her conviction at the state level. The Colorado attorney general is asking for the petition to be dismissed, citing Supreme Court precedent that states federal courts should not interfere in state court proceedings.
Her attorney said they have serious concerns about her physical and mental health.
“She has been subjected to conditions and targeted treatment that are unacceptable. Her nine-year sentence is utterly unacceptable for a woman of 69 years for violations that are non-violent and subject to challenge on appeal,” attorney Patrick McSweeney told Fox 31 in Denver. “Her sentence also violates the First Amendment because it was expressly based on the exercise of her protected speech under the Free Speech Clause.”
The Justice Department is backing her request for release.
