President Donald Trump said Thursday that he is granting a “full pardon” to former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, describing it as a response to what he called her efforts to expose voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
However, any federal action—including clemency issued by a president—does not override a state conviction. Peters was convicted of state-level crimes in Colorado, and only Colorado Governor Jared Polis has the constitutional authority to pardon those offenses, according to reporting by The New York Times.
Why It Matters
Peters’ conviction and imprisonment for election-related crimes in Colorado has become a major point of political conflict, with supporters framing her case as a fight over election integrity and critics arguing it reflects accountability for unlawful actions involving voting systems.
What To Know
Peters was sentenced to nine years in prison after an October 2024 conviction tied to allegations of tampering with voting machines.
In a Truth Social post Thursday evening, Trump criticized Democrats on crime and immigration, then argued that Peters had been unfairly targeted. He described her as “a Patriot” and said she was imprisoned for demanding “Honest Elections,” concluding: “Today I am granting Tina a full Pardon for her attempts to expose Voter Fraud in the Rigged 2020 Presidential Election!”
The case has become a rallying point in Republican politics, with several prominent figures urging her release, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene.
After Trump’s announcement, Peters posted on X and wrote in part, “Thank you!”
What People Are Saying
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, a Democrat, wrote on X Thursday: Peters “broke the law and was convicted by a jury of her peers,” adding that “no one is above the law” in Colorado and that he would “stand up for the rule of law.”
Rudy Giuliani wrote on X Thursday that the pardon would prevent the federal government from pursuing federal charges and would renew attention on Peters’ case, despite her current incarceration on state charges.
Colorado Sen. Michael Bennet, a Democrat, also wrote on X Thursday that Peters is “rightfully” in state prison and that Trump’s attempt to pardon her “won’t work” in Colorado.
What Happens Next
Peters remains in custody at the La Vista Correctional Facility while her appeal proceeds before the Colorado Court of Appeals.
