Trump Pardons Tina Peters Amid Colorado Sentence Dispute

President Donald Trump granted a full federal pardon to former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters in December, describing her as a patriot who was targeted for attempting to expose voter fraud in the 2020 election. Trump subsequently pressured Colorado officials to secure her release from prison, sparking a legal and political confrontation between the federal government and the state.

In January 2026, Peters appeared before the Colorado Court of Appeals to challenge her convictions and nine-year sentence stemming from a 2021 breach of secure voting equipment. While the court dismissed several of her primary arguments, judges expressed concerns regarding a procedural error in one felony charge and the severity of the sentence. Judge Craig Welling noted that the court cannot punish Peters for her First Amendment rights.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis has characterized Peters' sentence as harsh and indicated he is considering clemency, citing her age. However, Attorney General Phil Weiser opposed her release, arguing it would undermine public trust in democracy. Weiser also filed a federal lawsuit alleging the Trump administration launched a revenge campaign against Colorado—including relocating US Space Command to Alabama and closing a climate lab—in retaliation for Peters' continued imprisonment.