The American Democracy Minute Radio Report & Podcast for May 9, 2025
In August 2024, a jury convicted Mesa County, Colorado election official Tina Peters for tampering with her county’s voting machines in 2020, and allowing election deniers access to them. Disregarding the breach of “election integrity”, President Donald Trump is now trying to set her free.
Peters was found guilty on four felony charges and additional misdemeanors by 12 Mesa County jurors for giving unauthorized access to the county’s Dominion Voting Systems tabulators to two conspiracy theory activists. Those activists were associated with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell and election data was copied and later turned up online.
While President Trump has long talked about preserving election integrity, in March, he ordered the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the Peters prosecution, which it said in a court filing it was investigating, “abuses of the criminal justice process.” Then May 5th, Trump posted on Truth Social, “Colorado must end this unjust incarceration of an innocent American. I am hereby directing the Department of Justice to help secure the release of this “hostage” being held in a Colorado prison by Democrats, for political reasons.”
Because Peters was convicted in a state court, Trump has no power to pardon her, but could appeal in federal court or withhold federal funding to the state. Election integrity, indeed.
We’ve linked to more at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
Colorado Newsline – (2021) ‘Serious breach’ of voting security at center of investigation of Mesa County clerk’s office
American Democracy Minute – Colorado Election Official Who Allowed 2020 Conspiracy Theory Activists Access to County Voting Machine Data Found Guilty
Colorado Newsline – Tina Peters, former Mesa County clerk, guilty on 7 counts
Colorado Newsline – Trump Justice Department conducting ‘review’ of Colorado’s Tina Peters prosecution
President Donald Trump – Truth Social post to ‘FREE TINA PETERS’
Denver ABC 7 – Jena Griswold says Trump is ‘weaponizing the Department of Justice’ in Tina Peters case
Groups Taking Action:
Common Cause CO, States United Democracy Center, Issue One
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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