Trump Explodes at Colorado Governor, Demands Release of Convicted Election Clerk Tina Peters
Donald Trump lashed out at Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday night, accusing him of keeping former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters in prison despite what Trump called an “unfair” conviction.
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In a post on Truth Social, Trump labeled Polis a “sleazebag” and repeated long-debunked claims that Peters was punished for trying to stop Democrats from “stealing Colorado votes.”
The facts do not support that claim.
Peters, once a prominent figure in the 2020 election-denial movement, was convicted by a Colorado jury in 2024 on seven criminal counts — including felonies — for allowing unauthorized access to secure voting-system equipment. Prosecutors said she compromised the security of Mesa County’s election infrastructure during a breach that later circulated widely in far-right circles.
She was sentenced to nine years in state prison and has served a little more than one year so far.
Trump argued Peters was “preserving election records” and should be freed immediately. But Colorado officials — including prosecutors, local clerks, and election-security experts — say Peters’ actions violated election law and enabled an internal breach, not whistleblowing.
State authorities point out that Peters’ case went through a standard trial, a unanimous jury verdict, and multiple appeals. No court has found political bias or misconduct in the process.
Trump also implied Gov. Polis personally refused to release Peters. In reality, state corrections officials — with support from the governor’s office — denied a federal request to transfer Peters into federal custody. Colorado prosecutors urged the state to block the move, calling it “unprecedented” and warning it could undermine state authority over criminal sentences.
Peters remains in the custody of the Colorado Department of Corrections and is expected to serve most of her remaining eight years.
Peters’ case became a national flashpoint after the 2020 election, with far-right activists elevating her as a martyr. Meanwhile, state officials say the breach she facilitated was one of the most serious internal threats to election security in recent memory.
Trump’s renewed push to “Free Tina” underscores his ongoing support for figures convicted in connection with election-denial efforts — and highlights the political pressure Colorado officials continue to face as the 2026 midterms approach.