In Denver, a high-ranking official in Colorado’s Attorney General’s office has called on a federal judge to dismiss the Trump administration’s distinctive move to assist a former county clerk, Tina Peters, who is currently incarcerated. This follows her conviction on allegations tied to claims that the 2020 election was fraudulently lost due to misconduct, a narrative driven by Trump.
Previously in March, the U.S. Justice Department filed documents in a federal court to support Peters’ appeal against her state court conviction. The department questioned whether Peters’ prosecution was “aimed more at causing political pain than seeking genuine justice.”
However, during a recent hearing in Denver, Natalie Hanlon Leh, Colorado’s Chief Deputy Attorney General, urged Magistrate Judge Scott T. Varholak to disregard the government’s filing. She emphasized that the government failed to provide any evidence suggesting potential misdeeds, and specifically requested the removal of any implication of politically motivated actions.
Judge Varholak noted that, under the Biden administration, the Justice Department had actively been part of Peters’ investigation and had extensive access to case materials. He challenged the department to substantiate its case with evidence. On the other hand, Abigail Stout, a DOJ attorney, indicated she couldn’t discuss ongoing inquiries nor confirm the presence of any evidence.
Despite these events, the Justice Department urged the court for a swift and thorough examination of Peters’ plea for release. Colorado Attorney General’s office described the filing as a stark “political attempt” potentially undermining judicial integrity. Magistrate Varholak, seeing it as a peripheral issue, questioned the rationale behind Colorado’s challenge, suggesting it might just spotlight the issue further.
In her defense, Leh stated it was crucial for the state to uphold its judicial system’s integrity and not implicitly support the DOJ’s involvement through silence. She emphasized the importance of preventing such occurrences from becoming normal practice.
Currently, Judge Varholak is determining his jurisdiction to make a ruling on the matter.
In August, a jury found Peters guilty of violating security protocols to allow access for an associate of My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell—a known propagator of false election claims—into the Mesa County election system. Subsequently, in October, a state judge sentenced Peters to a nine-year prison term, reinforcing the serious defiance associated with her ongoing baseless allegations.
Peters firmly believes that Judge Matthew Barrett infringed upon her free speech rights by denying her bail during the appeal process, citing her vocal challenges to the electoral system. She contends her actions were in line with a federal obligation, justifying a bond release during her appeal.
Interestingly, Barrett had previously adjudged Peters in contempt of court following District Attorney Dan Rubinstein’s allegations of her recording a court hearing connected to a co-conspirator. Peters contested these claims, which the appeals court refuted for lack of evidence in January.
Moreover, Peters’ narrative involves an admission from Rubinstein, a Republican, who later acknowledged uncertainty about her recording the hearing but nonetheless used it to influence her sentencing for the voting-system debacle. Her legal team argued that subsequent reviews failed to uncover any evidence of a recording.
Historically, tension between Trump and Democrat-led Colorado officials, notably over immigration, has existed. In March, Trump requested the removal of his portrait from the state Capitol, critiquing its portrayal negatively.
The administration’s recent involvement with Peters’ legal battle signifies another attempt to support allies implicated in illegal activities championing Trump. Previously, Trump has extended presidential pardons to those convicted over the January 6th Capitol incident and even nominated Ed Martin, linked to defendants of the attack, for a significant legal position.
In a comparable maneuver, the DOJ moved to dismiss corruption charges against New York’s Democratic Mayor Eric Adams. The justification involved claims of “weaponization,” underscoring the administration’s need for Adams’ collaboration in its immigration policies.