Trump issues pardon for former Colorado clerk Tina Peters
Donald Trump has pardoned Tina Peters, a former Colorado county clerk who was convicted of tampering with voting machines in connection with the 2020 US presidential election. Peters was sentenced to nine years in prison for her role in a scheme to breach Mesa County's voting systems.
Details of the Pardon:
- Trump's pardon is for Peters' "attempts to expose voter fraud" in the 2020 presidential election, according to his post on Truth Social.
- However, the pardon is largely symbolic, as Peters was convicted of state crimes, and Trump's authority to grant pardons only applies to federal offenses.
Reactions from Colorado Officials:
- Governor Jared Polis: "No President has jurisdiction over state law nor the power to pardon a person for state convictions."
- Attorney General Phil Weiser: The idea that a president could pardon someone tried and convicted in state court has no precedent in American law and would be an outrageous departure from what our constitution requires.
- Secretary of State Jena Griswold: "Tina Peters was convicted by a jury of her peers for state crimes in a state Court. Trump has no constitutional authority to pardon her."¹ ²
Impact of the Pardon:
- Peters will remain in prison, as the pardon does not affect her state-level convictions.
- The pardon has sparked debate about the limits of presidential power and the relationship between state and federal authorities.
Colorado Says Trump’s Pardon For Jailed County Clerk Is A ‘Lawless Act’
Colorado officials are up in arms over President Donald Trump's decision to pardon Tina Peters, a former county clerk serving a nine-year prison sentence for tampering with election equipment. They claim the pardon is "lawless" and an overreach of presidential power, as Trump's authority to grant pardons only applies to federal crimes, not state convictions.
Reactions from Colorado Officials:
- Governor Jared Polis: "No President has jurisdiction over state law nor the power to pardon a person for state convictions."
- Attorney General Phil Weiser: The idea that a president could pardon someone tried and convicted in state court has no precedent in American law and would be an outrageous departure from what our constitution requires.
- Secretary of State Jena Griswold: "Tina Peters was convicted by a jury of her peers for state crimes in a state Court. Trump has no constitutional authority to pardon her."
The Controversy:
- Peters was convicted in August 2024 of seven charges, including four felonies, for allowing unauthorized access to voting machines in support of Trump's false claims of fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
- Trump's pardon is seen as symbolic, as it doesn't change Peters' current incarceration status, which is determined by state law.
- Peters' lawyer argued that the president has the power to grant pardons in any state, but this interpretation is not supported by most legal experts.
Trump announces pardon for Tina Peters, increasing pressure to free her though he can’t erase state charges
Donald Trump has pardoned Tina Peters, a former Colorado county clerk serving a nine-year prison sentence for tampering with voting machines. Peters was convicted in August 2024 of seven charges, including four felonies, for allowing an unauthorized person to access her county's election system.
Reactions from Colorado Officials:
- Governor Jared Polis: "No President has jurisdiction over state law nor the power to pardon a person for state convictions. This is a matter for the courts to decide, and we will abide by court orders."
- Attorney General Phil Weiser: "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."
- Secretary of State Jena Griswold: "Tina Peters was convicted by a jury of her peers for state crimes in a state Court. Trump has no constitutional authority to pardon her. His assault is not just on our democracy, but on states' rights and the American constitution."
Impact of the Pardon:
- The pardon is largely symbolic, as Peters was convicted of state crimes, and Trump's authority to grant pardons only applies to federal offenses.
- Peters will remain in prison, serving her nine-year sentence for tampering with voting machines.
- The pardon has sparked debate about the limits of presidential power and the relationship between state and federal authorities.
Trump says he’s just pardoning Tina Peters convicted in state court
Donald Trump has pardoned Tina Peters, a former Colorado county clerk serving a nine-year prison sentence for tampering with voting machines. However, this pardon is largely symbolic, as Trump doesn't have the authority to pardon state crimes, only federal ones. Peters was convicted of violating Colorado state laws, including criminal impersonation and official misconduct, related to a breach of Mesa County's election systems.
Reactions from Colorado Officials:
- Governor Jared Polis: "No President has jurisdiction over state law nor the power to pardon a person for state convictions. This is a matter for the courts to decide, and we will abide by court orders."
- Attorney General Phil Weiser: "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."
- Secretary of State Jena Griswold: "Tina Peters was convicted by a jury of her peers for state crimes in a state Court. Trump has no constitutional authority to pardon her. His assault is not just on our democracy, but on states' rights and the American constitution."
Impact of the Pardon:
- Peters will remain in prison, serving her nine-year sentence for tampering with voting machines.
- The pardon doesn't affect her state-level convictions.
- The move has sparked debate about the limits of presidential power and the relationship between state and federal authorities.
Trump Symbolically Pardons Tina Peters, Colorado Clerk Convicted of Election Tampering
Donald Trump has pardoned Tina Peters, a former Colorado county clerk convicted of tampering with voting machines in connection with the 2020 US presidential election. Peters was sentenced to nine years in prison for her role in breaching Mesa County's voting systems.
Reactions from Colorado Officials:
- Governor Jared Polis: Stated that Trump has no jurisdiction over state law or the power to pardon Peters for state convictions, calling it a matter for the courts to decide.
- Attorney General Phil Weiser: Said the idea that a president could pardon someone tried and convicted in state court has no precedent in American law and would be an outrageous departure from what the constitution requires.
- Secretary of State Jena Griswold: Asserted that Trump's pardon is an assault on democracy, states' rights, and the American constitution.
Impact of the Pardon:
- The pardon is largely symbolic, as Peters was convicted of state crimes and Trump's authority only extends to federal offenses.
- Peters will remain in prison, serving her nine-year sentence for tampering with voting machines.
- The pardon has sparked debate about the limits of presidential power and the relationship between state and federal authorities.
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