Trump calls for release of 70-year-old supporter from jail

Former President Donald Trump has called for the release of Tina Peters, a 70-year-old ex-election clerk from Colorado convicted for her role in attempting to manipulate voting machines following the 2020 election. In a post on Truth Social, Trump emphasized her age as a reason she should be freed from incarceration.

The Governor of Colorado, Jared Polis, refuses to release Tina Peters, an elderly woman who was convicted in a case that reflects what Democrats have done in elections, Trump wrote. She was punished for trying to prevent Democrats from altering Colorado votes.

Peters, a former Mesa County elections official, was found guilty in September 2024 on seven criminal charges, including four felonies, for permitting Trump allies to access the countys election system illegally. The court learned she had disabled security cameras and allowed a collaborator of MyPillow founder Mike Lindell to obtain and leak confidential voting data.

During sentencing in October 2024, Judge Matthew Barrett handed Peters a nine-year prison term, describing her as one of the most defiant defendants he had encountered and asserting that she would likely repeat her actions if given the chance. Despite her indictment, Peters ran unsuccessfully for Colorado secretary of state while continuing to promote voter fraud conspiracy theories.

The Trump administration has attempted to intervene, though the president has no authority to pardon state convictions. In March, Peters sought a writ of habeas corpus, citing constitutional issues and her health problems, including fibromyalgia, which required special accommodations like a magnetic mattress.

Reports indicate that the federal Bureau of Prisons requested on November 12 that Peters be moved to federal custody, which could improve her prison conditions. Comparisons have been drawn to past federal transfers, such as that of Ghislaine Maxwell, who received preferential treatment after federal officials intervened.

Governor Polis has declined to approve Peters transfer, prompting Trump to escalate his demands on social media. She has already served more than a year and has eight remaining. She is also a cancer survivor, Trump wrote. The governor should be ashamed. FREE TINA!

Author: Olivia Parker