Former Colorado elections clerk Tina Peters is petitioning the state appeals court to recognize Donald Trump’s pardon of her state convictions as valid, citing a precedent from the Whiskey Rebellion. Peters’ lawyers argue the pardon removes the court’s jurisdiction and requests her release from prison. The Colorado Attorney General’s office, defending the conviction, has been given until January 8 to respond. The court previously denied Peters’ federal court bid for release.
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In a recent Truth Social post, former President Trump expressed frustration with the Justice Department’s continued involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein case. He urged the DOJ to cease releasing information about the deceased sex offender and instead focus on alleged election fraud. Trump also demanded the release of names of Democrats connected to Epstein, asserting that they were the primary individuals associated with him. This social media post followed the DOJ’s announcement of discovering over a million more documents related to Epstein, and failing to meet the deadline mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act.
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Following Christmas, Donald Trump engaged in an extensive social media posting spree on Truth Social, averaging a post every two minutes. His posts covered a wide range of topics, including his immigration policies, claims of election fraud, and celebrations of decreased federal employment, while also referencing Bill Clinton in the Epstein files. He also distanced himself from Jeffrey Epstein in some of his posts. These posts, made from his Mar-a-Lago resort, were met with both criticism and attention on social media.
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AP News reports that a preliminary hearing was held in Wisconsin for three individuals linked to Donald Trump’s 2020 campaign, facing felony forgery charges related to a fake elector scheme. Despite challenges to the charges, the case has moved forward while other cases in states like Michigan and Georgia have stalled. The defendants, including attorneys Jim Troupis and Kenneth Chesebro, and aide Mike Roman, are accused of defrauding Republican electors who cast ballots for Trump in 2020. The hearing determined whether enough evidence exists to proceed with the charges, which stem from the submission of fraudulent paperwork to then-Vice President Mike Pence, falsely claiming Trump had won the state.
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During a Christmas reception, former President Donald Trump alleged the 2020 election was rigged by Democrats and claimed to possess substantial evidence to prove it. He asserted that the evidence would be revealed “in truckloads,” implying a vast amount of proof of election fraud. Trump also stated he would have won California if the election had been legitimate, further highlighting his allegations of widespread voter interference. While making these claims, Trump also diverted to other topics, including comments about a woman in the crowd and a story about a snake bite.
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President Trump announced his intention to pardon Tina Peters, a former Colorado county clerk serving a state sentence for election-related crimes. Peters, convicted of state charges including attempting to influence a public servant, was prosecuted in a Republican county, which has led to significant criticism. Despite the president’s claim that the pardon is related to alleged election fraud, Colorado officials, including Secretary of State Jena Griswold and Attorney General Phil Weiser, assert that the president lacks the constitutional authority to pardon state crimes. While Peters’ attorney argues that the president may have the power to pardon in this case, legal experts widely disagree, citing that the presidential pardon power is limited to federal offenses.
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Tina Peters, a Colorado election official, is currently incarcerated after being convicted on multiple charges related to unauthorized access of voting machines and attempts to influence a public servant, stemming from her actions following the 2020 election. Right-wing figures, however, have rallied behind her, portraying her as a political prisoner despite her convictions. Concerns have been raised by Peters’ supporters regarding her health and treatment while in jail, including a recent period in solitary confinement. Notably, Donald Trump has publicly advocated for Peters’ release, echoing the narrative that she is wrongly imprisoned for exposing election fraud.
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Former Arizona state legislator Austin Smith pleaded guilty to charges related to forging over 100 signatures on his reelection petitions. Smith admitted to signing a deceased person’s name and attempting to deceive the Secretary of State’s Office by filing petitions with forged signatures. The plea agreement allows Smith to potentially avoid a felony conviction, but he will face probation, a fine, and a five-year ban from public office, pending the sentencing judge’s decision. Despite initially denying the accusations, Smith resigned from his position at Turning Point Action around the time of the allegations, but may have been rehired.
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The article details Donald Trump’s ongoing attempts to discredit the electoral process, now specifically targeting both mail-in and early voting methods. Despite previously utilizing these very methods himself and encouraging his supporters to do the same, he is calling for their elimination. Trump is falsely claiming these methods are proof of Democratic cheating, and urging the Justice Department to investigate the 2020 election outcome. These demands come amid record-breaking early voting turnout in several states, including a concerning shift in Republican voter behavior.
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In a significant development, a Michigan judge dismissed criminal charges against a group of individuals accused of attempting to falsely certify Donald Trump as the winner of the 2020 election, citing a lack of intent to commit fraud. The 15 Republicans, including prominent members of the state’s GOP, faced forgery and conspiracy charges related to signing a document falsely claiming they were the state’s duly elected electors. The judge determined that the defendants believed they were executing their constitutional right to seek redress. Following the ruling, Attorney General Dana Nessel expressed disappointment and said that she is considering an appeal.
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John Q. Hosedrinker