On Thursday, August 21, 2025, President Donald Trump reignited a contentious debate over election integrity and presidential power by publicly demanding the immediate release of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters from a Colorado prison. In a fiery social media post, Trump referred to Peters as a "brave and innocent Patriot who has been tortured by Crooked Colorado politicians, including the big Mail-In Ballot supporting governor of the State." He warned, "If she is not released, I am going to take harsh measures!!!"
Peters, 69, is serving a nine-year sentence after a Colorado jury found her guilty in August 2024 of seven charges, including four felonies: three counts of attempting to influence a public servant, one count of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, and several misdemeanors such as first-degree official misconduct and violation of duty. Her conviction stemmed from a high-profile breach of Mesa County’s election computer system during the aftermath of the 2020 presidential election—a breach that, prosecutors argued, was intended to support Trump’s and his supporters’ false claims that Democrats had stolen the election.
According to The Denver Post, Peters’ actions included conspiring with her deputy, Belinda Knisley, to disable security cameras in the secure room where voting machines were stored and granting unauthorized access to an outside activist by misusing another person's identity. This allowed former surfer Conan Hayes, who had ties to election denier and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, to enter the secure area, capture images of the voting machines, and extract sensitive data. The images and data were later posted online, exposing the county’s machines to potential hackers and forcing officials to replace the equipment. Peters claimed she was unaware the information would be made public, but her explanations failed to sway the jury or the presiding judge.
During her October 2024 sentencing, Judge Matthew Barrett did not mince words. "You are no hero. You abused your position – and you’re a charlatan who used, and is still using your prior position, to peddle a snake oil that’s been proven to be junk time and time again," Barrett said, as reported by USA TODAY. "Your lies are well-documented and these convictions are serious. I’m convinced you’d do it all over again if you could." Peters is currently appealing her conviction, seeking release on bond while her case moves through the courts.
Trump’s latest intervention is not his first. Back in May, he directed the Department of Justice to "take all necessary action to help secure the release of former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters." The Justice Department subsequently filed motions supporting her federal habeas request, though these efforts have so far been unsuccessful. However, legal experts and Colorado officials are adamant that Trump’s influence stops short of executive clemency in this case. Because Peters was convicted on state charges, the president has no authority to pardon her. As Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold told The Denver Post, "The president has absolutely no authority to issue a pardon."
Griswold, a Democrat, was quick to condemn Trump’s latest move, calling both Peters and the president "election-denying criminals who put their need for power ahead of the American people." She accused Trump of trying to "power grab" and "rewrite the 2020 election." Griswold also dismissed Trump’s threats as likely "bluster," but insisted that the law and the integrity of Colorado’s elections would be upheld.
Peters’ case has made her a cause célèbre among election deniers and conspiracy theorists. She is the first election official in the United States to face criminal charges for a security breach tied to false claims about the 2020 election. Peters herself denies that President Joe Biden won the 2020 election and has repeatedly described herself as a "political prisoner" and "whistleblower." Her campaign website claims she has been "silenced for standing for truth."
Trump continues to use Peters’ case as a springboard for broader attacks on mail-in voting and electronic voting machines. Earlier this month, he announced plans to lead a movement "to get rid of MAIL-IN BALLOTS" and "VOTING MACHINES," falsely claiming that the United States is the only country in the world to use mail-in voting. He also hinted at new executive actions to restrict mail-in ballots ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, despite the fact that legal scholars and state officials insist only Congress has the authority to regulate state election procedures.
Colorado’s mail-in voting system, established more than a decade ago under the Voter Access and Modernized Elections Act, has become a point of pride for state officials. The law requires ballots to be mailed to all registered voters, though in-person voting remains available. Despite Trump’s criticisms, the system is widely popular and trusted across party lines. "We appreciate the President’s awareness and recognition of Colorado’s wildly popular ability to vote by mail, which is safe, secure, and has led to record turnout for Coloradans of every party," said Shelby Wieman, spokesperson for Governor Jared Polis.
Denver Clerk & Recorder Paul López echoed this sentiment, telling Sentinel Colorado, "Trump’s recent rant to call for the elimination of mail-in voting is both illegal and unconstitutional and would drag our country backward, stripping away rights that generations of Americans fought and died for. In Colorado, mail-in voting is secure, accessible, and trusted by every party — including Republicans, who made big gains with it in 2024."
Legal experts have underscored that the executive branch does not have the authority to dictate how states conduct their elections. As López pointed out, the U.S. Constitution grants states the power to establish the times and manner of holding elections. Any sweeping changes to voting methods would require congressional action, not a presidential order.
As the debate rages on, Peters’ fate remains uncertain. She is appealing her conviction, but for now, remains behind bars—a symbol, depending on one’s perspective, of either the consequences of election subversion or the supposed persecution of those who challenge the system. Trump, meanwhile, shows no sign of backing down, using his platform to keep the issue front and center as the 2026 midterms approach.
With emotions running high and the legal battle ongoing, Colorado stands firm in its defense of mail-in voting and its handling of the Peters case, even as the former president’s threats add yet another layer to the nation’s ongoing struggle over election legitimacy and the rule of law.
