August 21, 2025 — Buckle up: Donald Trump has once again graced us with his latest civic duty—calling for the immediate release of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, now serving a nine-year prison sentence for election-system shenanigans. Because, apparently, she’s a “brave and innocent Patriot” who’s merely “tortured by Crooked Colorado politicians.” Trump even threatened some ominous “harsh measures” if she isn’t freed RIGHT NOW.
Let’s put aside the theatrics for a moment. Peters was convicted by a jury in August 2024 on multiple felony charges—including conspiracy and influencing a public servant—after she allowed an unauthorized individual to access and copy Dominion Voting Systems data during a software update. That data ended up featured at a symposium hosted by none other than election-obsessed billionaire Mike Lindell.
Despite the conviction—and a sentencing Judge Matthew Barrett made abundantly clear isn’t a recognition of political martyrdom, calling her “a charlatan… peddling snake oil” —Trump insists she did “nothing wrong,” labeling her an “old woman, and very sick,” clearly implying that frailty should trump felony convictions.
If you’re wondering why this display is particularly eyebrow-raising, here’s the tea: Trump has zero legal authority to intervene. Peters’ conviction is at the state level, meaning only the Colorado Governor has clemency power. But why let a pesky technicality stop a presidential meltdown? Meanwhile, the Colorado judiciary stands firm, calling the sentence “fair and just” and hoping it’s a warning to anyone who dares tamper with election systems.
Peters’ legal team is appealing—and seeking release on bond, arguing under the First Amendment that she’s being silenced. But federal judges are skeptical. One magistrate remarked he couldn’t even find a precedent for granting bond while appealing a state conviction. The Colorado AG even filed to dismiss a habeas corpus petition, invoking Younger v. Harris—a Supreme Court case that essentially says federal courts shouldn’t interfere with ongoing state proceedings.
So here’s the bottom line: Trump’s dramatic proclamation may tap into the performance art part of his skillset, but legally? There’s simply no pathway for him to free Tina Peters. And while theatrics abound, the courts are steadily saying, “Nice try—case closed.”
