DENVER (AP) — Former Colorado elections clerk Tina Peters is appealing to the state appeals court, asserting that President Donald Trump's pardon regarding her state convictions should be recognized as legally valid. Claiming that Trump’s pardon absolves her of state crimes related to fraudulent election claims, Peters seeks an expedited release from prison.
Peters, previously convicted of initiating a data breach tied to voted fraud allegations during the 2020 election, argues that the appeals court no longer holds jurisdiction due to the presidential pardon granted on December 5. Her legal team draws parallels to President George Washington's historical pardons to support this claim.
Amidst the legal proceedings, the state appeals court has confirmed that prosecutors have until January 8 to respond to Peters' arguments, setting a critical date as the court prepares to hear oral arguments on January 14 regarding her conviction.
Despite the pardon, the current legal landscape remains contentious. The Colorado Attorney General has declined to comment, yet previously denounced the notion that a president's pardon could apply to state convictions. Based on this framework, Peters' lawyers are contemplating potential challenges up to the U.S. Supreme Court should the state court reject the validity of the pardon.
Peters, who has portrayed herself as a victim of judicial bias, maintains that her actions were intended to expose voter fraud. As the legal battle unfolds, serious questions remain over the intersection of state justice and federal executive power.
