Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has escalated a legal battle against the Trump administration, alleging a coordinated “revenge campaign” designed to punish the state for refusing to release convicted former clerk Tina Peters.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Catalyst: The Tina Peters Conflict
The tension stems from the nine-year prison sentence of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, convicted of state felonies related to election system breaches.
- The Federal Claim: President Trump issued a symbolic “pardon” for Peters in late 2025 and demanded her immediate release.
- The State Reality: AG Weiser and Governor Jared Polis have stood firm, noting that presidential pardons do not apply to state convictions.
Evidence of Retaliation
The lawsuit argues that the White House is using federal policy as a weapon against Colorado. Key retaliatory strikes cited include:
- Economic Blows: Halting federal funding for social services, including childcare and family assistance (TANF).
- Strategic Loss: Reversing the decision to keep U.S. Space Command in Colorado, moving it to Alabama instead.
- Infrastructure Vetoes: Blocking bipartisan funding for critical state water and energy projects.
- Research Exodus: Moving to shut down or relocate federal climate labs currently based in Boulder.
The Stance of the Parties
White House Response: Spokeswoman Abigail Jackson dismissed the suit, claiming the administration is simply “aligning federal resources with the American people’s mandate” and investigating state spending.
