US Politics
Election-denier Tina Peters calls for Trump pardon to be recognized
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
Read more
Former Colorado elections clerk Tina Peters is asking a state appeals court to recognise a pardon issued by Donald Trump for her state convictions as valid.
In a motion, her lawyers argue the court lacks jurisdiction due to Trump’s December 5 pardon, demanding her release from prison.
Ms Peters, the former Mesa County clerk, was convicted of state crimes for orchestrating a data breach scheme, driven by false claims about 2020 election voting machine fraud.
A US president’s pardon power typically does not extend to state crimes.
Her legal team cited President George Washington’s pardons for state and federal crimes in the 1795 Whiskey Rebellion.
They urged a swift ruling, with arguments for her conviction appeal set for Jan. 14.
open image in gallery
The appeals court ruled lawyers from the state attorney general’s office, defending the conviction, must respond to Ms Peters’ arguments by January 8 Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser previously dismissed the pardon, stating: “The idea that a president could pardon someone tried and convicted in state court has no precedent in American law, would be an outrageous departure from what our constitution requires, and will not hold up.” His office declined further comment.
If the appeals court deems the pardon invalid, one of Ms Peters’ attorneys, Peter Ticktin, said she could appeal to the US Supreme Court.
Another lawyer, John Case, sought her release from state prison based on Trump’s pardon, but the state refused, an email in the court filing shows.
Earlier this month, Ms Peters lost a federal court bid for release from prison. She claims the state judge who sentenced her to nine years violated her First Amendment rights by punishing her for election fraud allegations.
During her October 2024 sentencing, Judge Matthew Barrett called Ms Peters a “charlatan” and said she posed a danger to the community for spreading lies.
Ms Peters was unapologetic, insisting her actions were to uproot what she believed was fraud and done for the greater good.
Ms Peters was convicted of allowing a man to misuse a security card to access the election system and being deceptive about his identity.
The man was affiliated with MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell, a prominent promoter of false claims that voting machines were manipulated to steal the election from Donald Trump.
