Colorado Governor Jared Polis dismissed President Donald Trump’s pardon of Tina Peters as irrelevant Thursday night, emphasizing that presidential clemency does not extend to state convictions.
In a social media post, Polis addressed Trump’s claim that he had issued a “full pardon” for Peters, the former Mesa County clerk currently serving time at the La Vista Correctional Facility pending appeal. She noted: “Tina Peters was convicted by a jury of her peers, prosecuted by a Republican District Attorney, and found guilty of violating Colorado state laws, including criminal impersonation.” Polis reiterated that “no President has jurisdiction over state law nor the power to pardon a person for state convictions. This is a matter for the courts to decide, and we will abide by court orders.”
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani stated Trump’s pardon carries federal implications: “While Tina is currently in state prison, the pardon ensures the federal government cannot pursue federal charges and gives renewed focus and attention to Tina’s story.”
Peters gained national attention among election integrity advocates following her 2021 criminal conviction related to a breach of voting machine equipment. In a Truth Social post Thursday, Trump declared: “Tina is sitting in a Colorado prison for the ‘crime’ of demanding Honest Elections. Today I am granting Tina a full Pardon for her attempts to expose Voter Fraud in the Rigged 2020 Presidential Election!”
The incident occurred after confidential voting machine data was copied and leaked online in Mesa County, where officials stated the breach violated state security protocols and exposed sensitive election systems. Prosecutors alleged Peters permitted an unauthorized individual access during a voting machine update and facilitated copying of restricted Dominion Voting Systems software.
In August 2024, a Colorado jury convicted Peters of attempting to influence a public servant, criminal impersonation, first-degree official misconduct, and related offenses for unauthorized access to the county’s election management system. She was sentenced to nine years in prison in October 2024 with parole eligibility.
Peters and her supporters maintained she acted as a whistleblower seeking to expose election vulnerabilities. State officials countered that her actions endangered security protocols designed to protect voting equipment. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser stated: “Tina Peters is in Colorado state prison because she broke the law and was convicted by a jury of her peers. In Colorado, no one is above the law. I’m not afraid of Donald Trump or his political pressure.”
Trump has consistently maintained that Peters was targeted due to her alignment with his efforts to investigate alleged irregularities in the 2020 presidential election.
