Marc Elias on Trump's "Insane" Scheme to Free Convicted Election Denier

Trump's Intervention in State Case

• 💡 Donald Trump is reportedly directing the Department of Justice to find a way to free Tina Peters, a former Colorado election official convicted of compromising a voting system.
• 🎯 Peters, an election denier, was sentenced to nine years in prison for her role in a failed attempt to find non-existent voter fraud.
• 🚀 Trump's alleged involvement is seen as an attempt to undermine those convicted of election-related crimes, similar to his stance on January 6th defendants.

DOJ's Unusual Legal Action

• ⚠️ The Department of Justice has filed a statement of interest in Peters's federal habeas corpus petition, a rare move for a state court conviction.
• ⚖️ This action is unusual because habeas corpus petitions are typically filed by individuals claiming unlawful detention, and are rarely granted, especially in cases with a jury trial and conviction.
• 🧐 The DOJ's intervention is interpreted as an attempt to argue that Peters is being wrongfully held, despite her conviction in a state court proceeding.

Hypocrisy and Credibility Concerns

• 🎭 The DOJ's intervention is highlighted as hypocritical, occurring while they are also involved in actions that critics argue undermine voting rights and minority voting protections.
• 📉 The credibility of the Department of Justice is questioned, with the argument that its loyalty is perceived to be to Donald Trump rather than to the rule of law.
• 📉 This action is expected to further diminish the DOJ's credibility in future cases, as their intervention in this case is seen as lacking a strong legal basis.

Trump's Motivations and Principles

• 🎯 Donald Trump's actions are characterized by a focus on loyalty rather than principle; he supports criminals on his side and opposes those on the other.
• 🧩 The media's attempt to find complex theories behind Trump's actions is criticized; his motivations are often driven by personal gain, such as financial support for his campaigns or businesses.
• 🚩 The case of Tina Peters is presented as an example of Trump supporting someone convicted of election fraud because she is on his side, contrasting with how a genuine law-and-order party would typically distance themselves from such individuals.

Legal Avenues and Future Concerns

• ⚖️ It is unlikely that a federal judge will grant Peters's habeas corpus petition, as it would require finding a lack of fundamental due process in the Colorado state court system, which is difficult to argue given her jury trial and conviction.
• ⚠️ Concerns are raised about potential