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Trump issues pardon for convicted Colorado elections official
US President Donald Trump announced on Friday he had pardoned Tina Peters, the former Colorado elections clerk serving a nine-year prison term for unauthorized access to voting equipment during the 2020 presidential election.
Legal experts reject pardon as invalid
Peters was convicted in 2024 on seven state charges, including three counts of attempting to influence a public servant and one count of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation. Constitutional scholars widely agree presidential pardons apply only to federal offenses, not state crimes.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser called Trump's action "an outrageous departure from constitutional principles" and stated it "will not hold up" in court. Weiser emphasized that states maintain independent sovereignty over their criminal justice systems.
Political fallout and election fraud claims
Trump, who has repeatedly alleged without evidence that the 2020 election was stolen from him, described Peters as a "Patriot" who sought to ensure "fair and honest" elections. The pardon was announced via a post on Truth Social.
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold condemned the move, stating Trump "has no constitutional authority" to pardon Peters and called it an "assault on our democracy."
Peters' case fuels election conspiracy theories
Peters' conviction has become a rallying point for election conspiracy theorists, many of whom have campaigned for her release. Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has issued multiple pardons for close allies, including former chief of staff Mark Meadows and ex-personal attorney Rudy Giuliani.
Constitutional debate over state vs. federal authority
Weiser reiterated in a statement that the U.S. Constitution establishes states' rights to manage their own criminal prosecutions without federal interference. Legal analysts note no precedent exists for a president pardoning a state-level conviction.
"One of the most basic principles of our constitution is that states have independent sovereignty and manage our own criminal justice systems without interference from the federal government."
Phil Weiser, Colorado Attorney General
