Colorado Governor Backs Decision to Reject Transfer of Tina Peters, Colorado Newsline Reports
Colorado Newsline reports that Gov. Jared Polis’ office has upheld the Colorado Department of Corrections’ decision to deny a request from the Trump administration to transfer former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters into federal custody. Peters is currently serving a nine-year state prison sentence for orchestrating a breach of her own county’s election equipment in an effort to uncover nonexistent fraud in the 2020 election.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons sent a letter last month asking Colorado to “initiate the transfer,” but state officials say the request has no standing. A spokesperson for Polis clarified that only the state can request an inmate transfer — and Colorado has no intention of doing so. This echoed an earlier statement from the Department of Corrections affirming they are “not currently seeking any transfer.”
Peters, 70, is incarcerated at La Vista Correctional Facility in Pueblo following her 2024 conviction on multiple felony charges. Although former President Trump has repeatedly called for her release, he has no authority to pardon state convictions and has instead pressured federal agencies to intervene.
The situation escalated when a bipartisan coalition of Colorado election officials publicly urged Polis to reject the federal request, warning it would undermine the justice system and embolden threats against election workers. Their appeal came after weeks of frustration over silence from state leadership as Trump intensified demands, even promising “harsh measures” if Peters remained imprisoned.
Peters is still fighting her conviction through state appeals and a federal habeas petition. Her legal team is also pushing for emergency release so she can visit her 97-year-old mother, who is reportedly in intensive care. Her attorney, Peter Ticktin, has labeled her a political prisoner and recently floated extreme strategies — including challenging the limits of presidential pardons and even suggesting the military forcibly remove her from state custody.
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