Trump Demands Release of Colorado Clerk

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Former President Donald Trump has renewed his call for the release of Tina Peters, a former Mesa County election clerk who was convicted in 2024 for breaching secure voting equipment. In a post on Truth Social on August 21, 2025, Trump described Peters as a “brave and innocent Patriot” and warned of “harsh measures” if she is not freed. He claimed Peters had been “tortured by Crooked Colorado politicians,” despite her conviction being upheld by a jury.

Peters was found guilty on seven counts, including four felonies, for allowing unauthorized access to county voting systems during a 2021 update. The access enabled an activist to obtain security credentials under a false name, and sensitive materials were later shared on Telegram and a right-wing outlet. In October 2024, she was sentenced to nine years in prison. Judge Matthew Barrett, who issued the sentence, said Peters showed no remorse and called her “as defiant a defendant that the court has ever seen.”

Peters’ legal team has filed an appeal and a federal habeas corpus petition, arguing that the denial of her bond violates her First Amendment rights. They claim she has been kept in prison due to fears about her public statements. The Colorado Attorney General’s office is seeking to dismiss the petition, citing a lack of federal jurisdiction.

Trump has repeatedly voiced his support for Peters, previously calling her an “innocent Political Prisoner” and alleging that her case is part of a “Communist persecution by Radical Left Democrats” related to the 2020 election. However, her conviction was for state-level crimes, meaning Trump has no authority to pardon her. Any potential clemency would require action by Colorado Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat.

Dan Rubinstein, the Republican district attorney who prosecuted the case, rejected claims of political targeting. He stated that the prosecution was initiated at the request of the county’s Republican-led board of commissioners and said Peters’ actions cost the citizens of Mesa County over $1 million.

The case has become a rallying point for election deniers, with Peters’ messages appearing on right-wing podcasts where she continues to promote election conspiracy theories. The U.S. Department of Justice has said it will review the case for potential “abuses of the criminal justice process,” though no findings have been announced.

Peters remains in prison while her appeal moves forward. The outcome will determine whether her sentence stands or if she will be granted release as her legal challenges continue.