Tina Peters, the former Mesa County Clerk unjustly convicted in a bogus election security case, continues to languish in a Colorado prison as her health rapidly declines. The Trump Justice Department has signaled interest in her case, announcing it will investigate her prosecution for "abuses of the criminal justice process" under the "End Government Weaponization" law. The DOJ has already filed a statement of interest to involve itself in her appeal, citing concerns over the "exceptionally lengthy sentence" of nine years and clear First Amendment violations. Yet, despite this promising step, the pace of federal action remains frustratingly slow—too slow for a woman whose physical and mental well-being is crumbling under the strain of incarceration.
According to Peters' legal team, her condition is dire. The prison food lacks adequate nutrition and deviates sharply from her usual diet, exacerbating her health issues. Beyond that, she has faced targeted attacks within the jail, threats of solitary confinement, and other inhumane treatment that compounds the injustice of her wrongful conviction. "While incarcerated, Tina Peters has been subjected to inhumane treatment that compounds the injustice of her wrongful conviction," her supporters affirm, echoing sentiments found in posts on X. Her rapid deterioration demands immediate attention—not just sympathy, but decisive intervention.
Peters’ case stems from her efforts to preserve election records during a 2020 federal election, a duty mandated under federal law. As Mesa County Clerk, she allowed an authorized individual to access voting equipment in 2021 to safeguard data before a software update ordered by Colorado’s Secretary of State—an update that risked erasing critical evidence. Her actions, tied to exposing election fraud, led to sensitive voting system information being shared online, resulting in her conviction on seven counts, including four felonies, by a biased state court in Mesa County. Colorado’s Democratic officials call it misconduct, but Peters and her allies know she was targeted for upholding her oath, making her a political prisoner in a weaponized justice system.
The DOJ’s involvement offers hope, but it must go further—and faster. The department should not merely review her case; it should press forward by designating Peters a federal witness, given her actions were tied to a federal election. Her prosecution is an overreach by state authorities who punished her for fulfilling her federal duty to preserve election records. This is not just a state matter—it’s a case with national implications that belongs in the higher federal courts. The DOJ must urge federal judges to take jurisdiction, ensuring Peters’ appeal is handled outside Colorado’s corrupt state system, which is tainted by political bias.
Democratic officials have dug in their heels against any federal intervention. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, a gubernatorial candidate, has urged a federal court to reject the DOJ’s statement of interest, labeling it a "grotesque attempt to weaponize the rule of law." Senator Michael Bennet, also reportedly eyeing a run for governor, has dismissed any notion of a deal to free Peters. Their resistance only proves her prosecution was politically motivated—a truth the DOJ must thoroughly investigate and act upon decisively.
Time is running out for Tina Peters. Her deteriorating health is a stark reminder that justice delayed is justice denied. The Department of Justice must escalate its efforts: continue pressing into her case, secure her status as a federal witness, and push for her appeal to be heard in federal courts. This is not just about one woman—it’s about ensuring that those who uphold their federal duties in election oversight are not crushed by state-level vendettas. The DOJ has the tools and the mandate under the "End Government Weaponization" law to act. It must do so now, before it’s too late.
