Election-denying Republicans in Colorado and elsewhere celebrated the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) intervention on behalf of Tina Peters’ attempt to get out of prison. Last month Peters, who is currently serving a nine-year sentence for multiple election-related felonies, filed for a writ of habeas corpus, which would release her on bond while her appeal is heard.
On Monday, Yaakov Roth, acting assistant attorney general civil division, asked Magistrate Judge Scott Varholak for “prompt and careful consideration” of Peters’ request:
“… the United States respectfully submits that the concerns raised in the Application warrant — at the very least — prompt and careful consideration by this Court (and, at the appropriate time, the Colorado appellate courts).
The statement continues to note the DOJ’s ongoing search for abuse in the criminal justice system, including the prosecution of Peters.
“Parallel to these proceedings and Ms. Peters’ direct appeal, the Department of Justice is reviewing cases across the nation for abuses of the criminal justice process. See Attorney General Memorandum, Restoring the Integrity and Credibility of The Department of Justice (February 5, 2025). This review will include an evaluation of the State of Colorado’s prosecution of Ms. Peters and, in particular, whether the case was “oriented more toward inflicting political pain than toward pursuing actual justice or legitimate governmental objectives.” Executive Order 14147, Ending the Weaponization of The Federal Government (Jan. 20, 2025).“
The DOJ cites Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Feb. 5 memo announcing the formation of a “Weaponization Working Group.” As the New York Times reported upon its release, “the memo, issued on Wednesday, signaled the most significant first step in deploying the levers of government to carry out Mr. Trump’s repeated suggestions to exact retribution against those he perceives to be his enemies.”
Extremist podcaster Joe Oltmann shared the DOJ filing with the comment, “BREAKING: DOJ ENTERS ON BEHALF OF @realtinapeters. Citing EO 14147…. They are coming for @JenaGriswold, @jaredpolis, @philweiser and @dominionvoting”
Oltmann has insisted that the charges against Peters were political persecution, despite the Mesa County district attorney being a Republican. Former Douglas County Clerk Merlin Klotz, who was also briefly investigated for possible election-related security breaches in 2022, replied to Oltmann’s post:
Reached via text, Lindell confirmed that he spoke with Trump and reiterated his long-standing support of Peters, but declined to provide details of his conversation with the President.
“I have helped Tina and will continue to do everything I can to free her,” said Lindell. “She is a hero and is a political prisoner of evil [Colorado Secretary of State]Jena Griswold (who I am hoping to melt down the voting machines into prison bars and Jena is behind them !) I will not disclose anything I talked to President Trump about … I get upset about the whole Colorado corruption … also Eric Coomer (another evil criminal) Even the Colorado judges are corrupt!”
After Peters’ sentencing last October, Lindell called it “one of the biggest injustices this country has ever seen.” Judge Barrett and other Mesa County courthouse staff received death threats after the sentence was announced. Oltmann and Lindell both spoke at an election fraud conspiracy event in Grand Junction just before Peters’ trial began. Oltmann alluded to political violence and both men invoked the need to defy authority figures they see as evil or corrupt.
Over the weekend, a handful of Peters supporters and Colorado Republican Party officials gathered outside the Larimer County Jail to protest Peters’ being forced to serve her sentence. Among them was Darcy Schoening, Director of Special Initiatives for the Colorado Republican Party.
Schoening took to Facebook last night to praise the DOJ’s decision. She also detailed her own efforts to help Peters.
“…I called on Pam Bondi and the new DOJ to investigate the Tina Peters case, said Schoening. I also called on the Trump administration to cut federal funding to Polis’s pet programs if he does not release Ms. Peters from jail soon (as in this month).
“…We must use every resource available to free Tina. The sentence is political persecution. Today, the Department of Justice let us know they are looking into the political persecution of Tina Peters. Tina is going to see justice. It’s just a short matter of time now until she sees her home again. Governor Polis knows what is coming. Everything is going to be released. It’s time to do the right thing. Send Tina home. Avoid further embarrassment and chaos in Colorado. I am thankful for our new federal government and praying for justice! I am thankful for everyone who worked tirelessly to help Tina and to reveal the truth. Let’s pray she is eating normal food and sitting by her fireplace by this time next week!”
In response to an email inquiry to the Dept. of Justice asking if its intervention had been ordered by either Bondi or Trump, Public Affairs Officer Melissa Brandon declined to comment. Asked to respond to Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubinstein’s statement to the New York Times that the DOJ never reached out to him about its plan to investigate the Peters prosecution for political bias, Bradon also declined to comment.
The statement of interest is signed not only by Acting Asst. AG Roth, but also Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado, J. Bishop Grewell. According to his DOJ bio, “Mr. Grewell says he became a lawyer because he believes a system of justice based on written laws applied without favor is the United States’ most important ideal.”
