In what many conservatives see as a blatant instance of two-tiered justice targeting election integrity advocates, President Donald Trump has called for the immediate release of Tina Peters, a 69-year-old former Mesa County Clerk who exposed potential voting system vulnerabilities and received a sentence of nine years in prison, while actual voter fraud cases receive minimal sentences.
Trump Calls for Peters’ Release After Excessive Sentence
President Donald Trump has forcefully demanded the release of Tina Peters, the former Colorado county clerk sentenced to nine years in prison for allowing access to election system data. His intervention has thrust this case into the national spotlight as a potential example of political persecution against those questioning election security.
Tina Peters bravely preserved the data about the stolen 2020 election and got locked up for it.
It's amazing to see President Trump stepping in to free her.
Free Tina and Ban The Voting Machines.
pic.twitter.com/LO99Grma3G— George (@BehizyTweets) May 6, 2025
Peters, a Gold Star mother, was convicted of multiple charges after permitting access to Mesa County’s election system in 2021, leading to the exposure of potential vulnerabilities in election software. The severity of her sentence has shocked many observers, especially compared to the lighter sentences typically given for actual voter fraud cases in the same state.
Double Standard in Election-Related Prosecutions
Trump highlighted the stark contrast between Peters’ lengthy prison term and the mere two years of probation given to a Colorado man who committed voter fraud by casting his deceased wife’s ballot. This disparity raises serious concerns about equal justice application and whether political motivations drive prosecutorial decisions.
I am glad to see President Trump address this situation after I sent a formal request to the FBI to look into the sentencing and treatment of Tina Peters.
Nine years in prison while Jena Griswold and her entire office avoids any type of legal accountability for releasing voting… pic.twitter.com/TOVzRwK4LE
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) May 6, 2025
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat, has strongly criticized Trump’s defense of Peters, calling her a “criminal who compromised her voting equipment.” Such harsh characterization of an election official who sought transparency about potential security vulnerabilities demonstrates the intensely partisan nature of election integrity debates.
Justice Department Intervention and Clemency Efforts
The Department of Justice has filed a court brief that could aid Peters’ case, suggesting federal concern about the state prosecution. Colorado state attorneys have predictably requested dismissal of federal involvement, highlighting the ongoing tension between state and federal authority in election-related matters.
“FREE TINA PETERS, NOW!”
Peters’ supporters have launched efforts seeking clemency from Colorado Governor Jared Polis, though formal application processes remain pending. The case continues to galvanize conservatives concerned about election integrity and the harsh treatment of those who question official narratives about election security.
“Radical Left Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser ignores Illegals committing Violent Crimes like Rape and Murder in his State and, instead, jailed Tina Peters, a 69-year-old Gold Star mother who worked to expose and document Democrat Election Fraud.”
Judge Matthew Barrett’s comments during sentencing, criticizing Peters for “seeking notoriety,” have further inflamed concerns about judicial impartiality in politically charged cases. The severe punishment imposed on Peters starkly contrasts with the minimal consequences faced by officials who made serious errors in other election contexts across the country.