President Trump said he is granting a pardon to Tina Peters, a former Colorado county clerk who was convicted of allowing unauthorized access to voting machines — even though the pardon power is widely understood to only apply to federal crimes.

After years of promoting baseless claims of voter fraud that President Donald Trump has frequently touted, a conservative activist has landed a top position at the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Tina Peters was sentenced to nine years in prison for election interference.

Gov. Jared Polis cuts the ceremonial ribbon celebrating the substantial opening of the North I-25 Express Lanes project at a ceremony at the I-25 bus slip in Loveland on Dec. 7, 2023. The new express lanes and two general purpose lanes will open Dec. 15, 2023. | © Miles Blumhardt/The Coloradoan / USA TODAY NETWORK via IMAGN images

Tina Peters was sentenced for a Colorado state crime that the president has no ability to pardon. President Trump has no legal power to free her from prison.

Trump's pardon is largely symbolic since Peters, who is now in prison, was convicted of state crimes, which are not shielded by presidential pardon powers. “Democrats have been relentless in their targeting of TINA PETERS, a Patriot who simply wanted to make sure that our Elections were Fair and Honest,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Trump has pardoned former Colorado clerk Tina Peters, who was convicted of breaching voting systems. A federal judge recently denied her request for release.

The Justice Department escalated an effort to seize and inspect old ballots in Fulton County, where President Trump was booked in his criminal election interference case.

Colorado county clerk Tina Peters, convicted in a pro-Trump election denial scheme, has been attacked three times in prison, according to her lawyer.