Former US President Donald Trump has launched a scathing verbal assault on Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubinstein. The attack centres on the incarceration of former election clerk Tina Peters, with Trump using strong language, stating they should "rot in hell."
Trump's Social Media Fury Over Peters' Conviction
Taking to his Truth Social platform, Trump expressed outrage over the situation of Tina Peters. The 73-year-old is currently serving a nine-year sentence in a Colorado maximum security prison, having been convicted on state charges for illegally tampering with voting machines following the 2020 election.
"God Bless Tina Peters, who is now, for two years out of nine, sitting in a Colorado Maximum Security Prison, at the age of 73, and sick, for the 'crime' of trying to stop the massive voter fraud that goes on in her State," Trump wrote in his post. He further claimed that people are leaving Colorado in record numbers.
In his tirade, Trump referred to Governor Polis as "the Scumbag Governor" and wished him "only the worst." He ended the post with a demand: "FREE TINA PETTERS!"
Legal Standoff and Pardon Controversy
The conflict escalated last week when Peters' legal team asked a Colorado appeals court to accept a presidential pardon from Trump that would free her. They argued the court no longer holds jurisdiction over her case due to the pardon. However, US Presidents do not possess the constitutional authority to overturn state convictions, a significant legal hurdle.
Following the announcement of clemency, Trump mocked Polis, suggesting the Governor "allowed his State to go to hell." The administration also attempted to transfer Peters from state to federal custody, but the Colorado Department of Corrections rejected the request.
District Attorney Dan Rubinstein responded sharply to Trump's comments. In a statement to The Hill, he invoked a legal maxim: "if the facts are on your side, pound the facts; if the law is on your side, pound the law; if neither is on your side, pound the table." Rubinstein concluded, "President Trump has no facts and no law here. After trying and failing to invent both, he’s left with nothing but pounding the table."
Broader Political Repercussions and a Vetoed Bill
This incident is part of a pattern where Trump has sought to aid individuals convicted of crimes related to his unsubstantiated claims about the 2020 election loss. This includes people charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
The criticism of Governor Polis comes on the heels of another contentious move. Trump issued one of the first vetoes of his second term, blocking a bill to complete a water project for southeastern Colorado. Republican Representative Lauren Boebert condemned the veto of what she called a "completely non-controversial, bipartisan bill that passed both the House and Senate unanimously." She vowed on social media platform X, "This isn’t over."
The White House defended the veto, citing the project's high cost. An official memo argued the bill would force federal taxpayers to shoulder more of the financial burden for a local water project originally intended to be funded by the benefiting localities.
In a separate social media post, Trump attacked Democratic governors, listing Colorado and California as the "TOP OUTBOUND STATES IN 2025," citing United Van Lines data to claim people are fleeing. "That’s what bad governors do to even places blessed with beautiful surrounds and climate," his post read.
