Former Clerk Tina Peters Urges Trump Seek Martial Law-Like Order for Midterms

POLICY WIRE — Washington, D.C. — A former Colorado election official recently met with President Donald Trump at the White House to advocate for a federal intervention described as being comparable to martial law prior to the upcoming midterm elections.

During a meeting in October, Tina Peters claimed the president possesses the inherent authority to deploy federal law enforcement to investigate vote counting processes if any criminal activity is suspected. She asserted that the executive does not require congressional approval to initiate such investigations.

Peters told MSNOW that the administration, the attorney general’s office, or various law enforcement agencies have the right to conduct deep inquiries if criminal elements are present. Her legal counsel, Peter Ticktin, echoed these sentiments by stating that Trump should prepare to sign an emergency order that would effectively function as martial law.

Ticktin, a long-time friend of the president, expressed similar views during a September 30 conference for MAGA-focused election activists. He suggested to Axios that martial law would be necessary in the event of another election perceived as being rigged.

The lawyer further argued that federal authorities might need to seize ballots and voting hardware to ensure a thorough investigation before further events occur. However, legal experts note that seizing such materials typically requires subpoenas or search warrants, and martial law does not grant the president the power to override state or federal election statutes.

In an April 2025 ruling, a federal judge noted that the Constitution does not provide the president with specific powers over electoral processes, a move intended to limit executive overreach. When questioned about the specific meeting, White House spokesperson Lauren Bis declined to comment, stating the office does not speak on private meetings that may or may not have occurred.

Peters served as the clerk for Mesa County, Colorado, from 2018 until 2023. Her tenure came under scrutiny in 2021 after sensitive data regarding voting systems appeared online.

Prosecutors later charged her with allowing an unauthorized individual associated with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell to access voting machinery during a software update while she sought evidence of election fraud. In August 2024, a jury found her guilty on seven of ten counts, including four felonies, resulting in a nine-year prison sentence.

While Peters maintained she was innocent and acting to expose fraud in the 2020 election, President Trump frequently campaigned for her release, characterizing her as an elderly woman battling cancer and repeating his claims that the previous election was stolen.

Ultimately, Governor Jared Polis commuted her sentence in May, allowing her to depart. While Polis acknowledged she committed serious crimes, he described the original sentence as unusually long for a non-violent, first-time offender. The move drew sharp rebuke from Secretary of State Jena Griswold, who labeled the decision a dark day for democracy and accused the governor of compromising the state justice system.

Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)