Could a presidential pardon be the key to freeing a woman many conservatives see as a political prisoner?
The Hill reported that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., recently expressed gratitude to President Trump for pardoning numerous individuals tied to efforts challenging the 2020 election outcome, while passionately advocating for the release of former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters, who remains behind bars on state charges.
Let’s rewind to the aftermath of the 2020 election, when Tina Peters, then clerk of Mesa County, Colorado, emerged as a prominent figure among Trump supporters. Peters gained attention for her staunch stance on election integrity, but her actions led to serious legal consequences.
Prosecutors accused her of using a county employee’s security badge to allow unauthorized access to voting systems, allegedly aiding a man linked to MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, who has long pushed unverified claims of election fraud.
This breach, involving copies of the election system’s hard drive taken around a software update in May 2021, ultimately led to Peters becoming the first local official convicted for election interference related to overturning the 2020 results.
Now serving a nine-year prison sentence, Peters has become a symbol for many on the right who believe the justice system has been weaponized against conservatives.
Her conviction on state charges means that even a presidential pardon wouldn’t directly overturn her sentence, a frustrating technicality for her supporters.
Still, voices like Greene’s are amplifying her cause, arguing that Peters’ punishment is disproportionate and politically motivated.
“Thank you, @POTUS, for pardoning the 2020 alternate electors! They fought for election integrity and were punished harshly by a politically weaponized government,” Greene declared on social media, highlighting her approval of Trump’s recent actions.
“But please free Tina Peters!! She is a gold star mom, wrongly convicted and serving time in prison. She is a political hostage in America!” Greene added, framing Peters as a victim of an overzealous system.
Greene’s plea isn’t just a standalone cry; it’s part of her broader pattern of defending those she sees as unfairly targeted, including her consistent support for individuals charged in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
President Trump’s recent wave of pardons covered high-profile names like Mark Meadows, Sidney Powell, and others linked to efforts questioning the 2020 election, as well as numerous individuals involved in the so-called fake electors scheme across several states.
However, these presidential pardons, while symbolically powerful for many conservatives tired of what they see as progressive overreach in the courts, only apply to federal crimes—leaving state convictions like Peters’ untouched.
Interestingly, U.S. pardon attorney Ed Martin responded to inquiries about Peters with a glimmer of hope, stating, “We are working on it!”—a comment that keeps the door cracked open for future action, even if the legal hurdles remain steep.
