Far Right Escalates Calls For Violence to Free Tina Peters After Trump’s ‘Pardon’

Right-wing figures are escalating their calls for violence to free Tina Peters, the Colorado election denier serving a nine-year state prison sentence for her role in a voting system data breach. 

Peters’ saga has become a cause celebre among conspiracy-driven far-right activists. But the rhetoric is escalating in the wake of a legally unenforceable “pardon” issued by President Donald Trump Dec. 11.

“WE THE PEOPLE ARE COMING TO BREAK TINA PETERS OUT OF PRISON IN 45 DAYS,” Jake Lang, a far-right Republican congressional candidate who was charged with attacking police during the Jan. 6, 2021 riot, posted on social media. “If Tina M. Peters is not released from La Vista Prison in Colorado to Federal Authorities by January 31st, 2026; US MARSHALS & JANUARY 6ERS PATRIOTS WILL BE STORMING IN TO FREE TINA!!”

Lang’s post was later shared by Diamond and Silk, the prominent right-wing commentators and staunch Trump supporters, who have millions of followers.

Because Peters was sentenced on state, not federal, charges, Trump’s pardon is largely ceremonial. Under the U.S. Constitution, presidential clemency powers extend only to federal offenses.

In an interview with Steve Bannon, Tej Gill, a conservative activist and the founder of the right-wing coffee roaster Warpath Coffee, demanded federal forces come to Colorado to free Peters. 

“Kash Patel and Dan Bongino need to show up with force and get her out of the Colorado jail system,” Gill said. “She is a political prisoner held by the Democrats for preserving evidence in the 2020 election… The FBI and U.S. Marshals need to go and get her out of jail and use force if necessary.”

Enrique Tarrio, the former head of the far-right extremist group the Proud Boys, shared a screenshot of Trump’s TruthSocial post about Peters on X, and said that “a battle is coming.”

Joe Oltmann, a far-right podcaster who, in a previous anti-semitic screed, called for violence against several Colorado officials, escalated his rhetoric.

“Standoff is on. President Trump issues a pardon for Tina Peters,” Oltmann posted. “Arrest them all.” 

In another post, Oltmann said that, “we are in an insurrection. [Colorado Gov. Jared] Polis will pay.” 

Peters appeared to distance herself from the calls for violence through a statement posted to her official X account, which is managed by close allies while she is incarcerated.

“Tina categorically DENOUNCES and REJECTS any statements or OPERATIONS, public or private, involving a ‘prison break’ or use of force against La Vista or any other CDOC facility in any way,” the post said. “This type of inflammatory theatrical rhetoric is contrary to who Tina Peters is, what she stands for, and undermines her lawful actions. Statements like these not only misrepresent Tina, they undermine the sacrifices she has made to expose the truth and pursue justice through proper legal channels.”

Polis, a Democrat, has refused to release Peters from prison. 

“Tina Peters was convicted by a jury of her peers, prosecuted by a Republican District Attorney, and found guilty of violating Colorado state laws, including criminal impersonation,” Polis said in a statement. “No President has jurisdiction over state law nor the power to pardon a person for state convictions. This is a matter for the courts to decide, and we will abide by court orders.”

“The governor of Colorado is a weak and pathetic man who was run by Tren de Aragua,” Trump told reporters during an event in the Oval Office Monday, referencing a Venezuelan gang. “The criminals from Venezuela took over sections of Colorado. And he was afraid to do anything, but he puts Tina in jail for 9 years because she caught people cheating, and when she walked over and got involved in it, they said she was cheating. She wasn’t cheating.”