Gay Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) reminded Donald Trump that he cannot issue a presidential pardon for former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters. Peters was convicted of election interference in state court in August 2024, and presidential pardons cannot exonerate state-level criminal convictions. As such, Peters will continue to serve the rest of her nine-year sentence, even though Trump has threatened harsh measures if she isnt freed. Related FBI raids Lauren Boeberts former campaign managers home over election tampering allegations Democrats have been relentless in their targeting of TINA PETERS, a Patriot who simply wanted to make sure that our Elections were Fair and Honest, Trump wrote in a Thursday Truth Social post. Today I am granting Tina a full Pardon for her attempts to expose Voter Fraud in the Rigged 2020 Presidential Election!Peters was convicted of seven criminal counts (including four felonies) connected to allowing an unauthorized person to access data from voting software in the county and then lying about it, as part of a scheme to prove the QAnon-related conspiracy theory about the 2020 election being rigged to help Joe Biden win. Never Miss a Beat Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights. Subscribe to our Newsletter today Peters herself admitted that she never found any proof of rigging. But Trump and Republicans repeatedly pushed this lie in the media and courts, even as nearly 60 judges threw out GOP election fraud cases due to a lack of evidence.Earlier this month, Trump called Polis a sleazebag for refusing to release Peters, who Trump referred to as a brave and innocent Patriot who has been tortured by Crooked Colorado politicians. This lightweight Governor, who has allowed his State to go to hell should be ashamed of himself, Trump wrote. She is an old woman, and very sick. If she is not released, I am going to take harsh measures!!!Trump didnt specify what harsh measures he would take, but in the past, he has withheld federal funding from states that defy his wishes. However, presidential pardons only work for federal convictions, something Polis pointed out to Trump in a Thursday evening post on X.Tina Peters was convicted by a jury of her peers, prosecuted by a Republican District Attorney, and found guilty of violating Colorado state laws, including criminal impersonation, Polis wrote. No President has jurisdiction over state law nor the power to pardon a person for state convictions. This is a matter for the courts to decide, and we will abide by court orders.Tina Peters was convicted by a jury of her peers, prosecuted by a Republican District Attorney, and found guilty of violating Colorado state laws, including criminal impersonation. No President has jurisdiction over state law nor the power to pardon a person for state pic.twitter.com/3szIgywLAf Governor Jared Polis (@GovofCO) December 12, 2025 Speaking to KMGH-TV, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser (D) added, One of the most basic principles of our constitution is that states have independent sovereignty and manage our own criminal justice systems without interference from the federal government.The idea that a president could pardon someone tried and convicted in state court has no precedent in American law, would be an outrageous departure from what our constitution requires, and will not hold up, he concluded.Subscribe to theLGBTQ Nation newsletterand be the first to know about the latest headlines shaping LGBTQ+ communities worldwide.