Colorado Appeals Panel Questions Length of Tina Peters’ 9‑Year Sentence and Effect of Trump Pardon
A Colorado appeals panel questioned the nine‑year sentence handed to former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters for a voting‑system breach, pressing state lawyers on whether the trial judge factored in her election‑fraud rhetoric and possibly punished protected speech. Peters, who has received a full pardon from Donald Trump — which her lawyer says should apply to state charges and might affect the appeals court’s jurisdiction — faces resistance from Colorado officials even as Gov. Jared Polis has called the sentence harsh.
📌 Key Facts
- Tina Peters is serving a nine-year Colorado state sentence for breaching Mesa County voting systems.
- At oral argument, Appeals Judge Craig Welling said, "The court cannot punish her for her First Amendment rights," signaling concern that the trial judge may have factored Peters’ election-fraud rhetoric into her sentence.
- The appellate panel pressed state lawyers on whether Peters was being punished for spreading 2020 election conspiracies, though judges showed little sympathy for her core legal arguments about her conduct.
- Former President Donald Trump has issued Peters a "full pardon" and has publicly threatened to withhold federal funding from Colorado if Gov. Jared Polis does not also pardon her.
- Peters’ attorney Peter Ticktin told Fox News he believes Trump's pardon should apply to state charges and said that, if it does, the Colorado Court of Appeals may lack jurisdiction to proceed with the appeal.
- Gov. Jared Polis publicly called the nine-year sentence "harsh," even as state officials continue to resist Trump's pressure.
📊 Relevant Data
In voter fraud cases, Black individuals have received harsher sentences than White individuals for similar offenses; for example, Crystal Mason, a Black woman, was initially sentenced to five years in prison for voting while on supervised release (later acquitted), while Bruce Bartman, a White man, received probation for fraudulently registering his deceased relatives to vote and casting ballots in their names.
A white man got probation for voting fraud. A Black woman faced six years in prison for a similar offense — The Guardian
According to a 2024 post-election survey, only 29% of Republicans expressed a great deal of confidence that the 2024 presidential election was conducted fairly and accurately, compared to 81% of Democrats, highlighting a significant partisan divide in trust.
How Did Trust in Elections Change After the 2024 Presidential Contest? — Yankelovich Center for Social Science Research
Threats against public servants, including election workers, have increased over 35 times compared to a decade ago, with elected officials, judges, election workers, and law enforcement being primary targets, according to 2025 research.
Threats against public servants increased over 35 times what they were a decade ago, according to new research — Nextgov/FCW
In a comparable election-related case, Kim Taylor was sentenced to four months in prison in 2023 for orchestrating a voter fraud scheme involving dozens of ballots in Iowa, which is significantly shorter than Peters' nine-year sentence for tampering with election equipment.
Republican election denier Tina Peters sentenced to 9 years in prison for voting data scheme — PBS NewsHour
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- At oral argument, Appeals Judge Craig Welling said 'The court cannot punish her for her First Amendment rights,' signaling concern that the trial judge may have factored Peters’ election‑fraud rhetoric into her nine‑year sentence.
- Judges on the panel showed little sympathy for Peters’ core legal arguments about her conduct but pressed state lawyers on whether she was being punished for spreading 2020 election conspiracies.
- The piece reiterates that Peters is serving a nine‑year state sentence for the Mesa County voting‑system breach while Trump has already issued her a 'full pardon' and publicly threatened Colorado with loss of federal funding if Gov. Jared Polis does not also pardon her.
- Peters’ attorney Peter Ticktin tells Fox News Digital he believes Trump’s pardon should apply to state charges and raises the possibility that, if it does, the Colorado Court of Appeals may lack jurisdiction to proceed with the appeal.
- Gov. Jared Polis has publicly called the nine‑year sentence 'harsh,' even as the state continues to resist Trump’s pressure.