Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters has filed a request with Colorado’s Court of Appeals regarding her appeal rights. This motion comes after a presidential pardon from Donald Trump that has stirred legal debate over its applicability to her state convictions.
Tina Peters’ Legal Situation
Peters is currently serving a nearly nine-year sentence at the La Vista Correctional Facility in Pueblo. Her convictions stem from unauthorized access to county voting equipment following the 2020 election. The situation escalated when Trump issued a pardon, which her attorneys now argue should nullify her state charges.
Request for Reconsideration
Peters’ legal team contends that the Colorado state court should reconsider its jurisdiction over her case in light of the presidential pardon. They assert that if the court lacks the authority to hear her case, she should be released immediately.
Arguments for the Pardon
- The attorneys claim the pardon applies to both federal and state convictions.
- The motion suggests that Peters’ actions related to election integrity fall under the scope of the pardon.
- Peter Ticktin, her attorney, describes this case as significant for understanding presidential pardons’ breadth.
The motion stated, “There is no question that the Pardon forgave federal offenses. However, the Pardon also forgave Colorado state court convictions for actions Clerk Peters ‘may have committed or taken part in related to election integrity and security’ during the applicable time period.”
State Response
Colorado’s Attorney General has stated that Trump’s pardon does not extend to state-level convictions. As such, officials maintain that Peters should continue to serve her sentence.
Peters’ attorneys planned to file this motion on Christmas Eve. However, as of now, Colorado Public Radio has not confirmed whether the motion has been officially submitted to the Court of Appeals.
