NICK SCHIFRIN: President Trump's use of pardons# is a Rorschach test of sorts on how people## view his second term.

For some, he's undoing# Justice Department -- quote -- "weaponization.

"## For others, he's letting loyal# followers get away with crimes.

Earlier this year, President Trump# pardoned around 1,500 people for their## involvement in efforts to overturn the 2020# presidential election.

As we near the fifth## anniversary of the January 6 Capitol attack, one# high-profile election denier remains behind bars.

And, as White House correspondent Liz# Landers reports, there's little Trump## can do to get former Colorado county# clerk Tina Peters out of prison.

LIZ LANDERS: President Donald Trump has# been on a pardoning spree of late, using his## executive power to bestow clemency on convicted# businessmen and the former president of Honduras.

DONALD TRUMP, President of the# United States: No autopen necessary.

(LAUGHTER) TINA PETERS, Former Colorado County Clerk: Well,# they didn't make a mista.. LIZ LANDERS: He recently announced on social# media that he was pardoning Tina Peters,## a former Colorado County clerk, though his# pardon power only covers federal crimes,## not her state convictions.

He wrote online that Democrats had -- quote --# "been relentless in their targeting of her."

DONALD TRUMP: She caught people cheating on an## election and they said she was# cheating.

She wasn't cheating.

LIZ LANDERS: She may not be a household name, but# Peters' case has become a rallying cry for MAGA## and the president since her conviction last# year.

Tina Peters served as the Mesa County## clerk administering elections in the Colorado# community after being first elected in 2018.

A Republican, Peters became# a vocal election denier,## questioning the 2020 results and the# voting machines used to conduct them.

TINA PETERS: No one has addressed# looking into the machines to see what## has been happening by these vendors,# by this vendor that manufactures the## machines and what goes on.

It's been# a mystery box, a mystery black box.

LIZ LANDERS: In 2021, Peters allowed# someone associated with MyPillow CEO## Mike Lindell to misuse a security# card to gain access to the county## election system and lied about his identity.

PETER TICKTIN, Attorney For Tina# Peters: And she knows what she## did.

And she knows what she did# was brave, but it .. LIZ LANDERS: Her attorney, Peter Ticktin,# says Peters doesn't regret her actions.

PETER TICKTIN: Her to admit to wrongdoing# would have to be because she's either## brainwashed herself or others brainwashed# her or, I mean, she'd be living a falsity.

LIZ LANDERS: Peters was charged in 2023# with 10 counts related to the scheme.

A## Republican district attorney prosecuted# the case.

She was convicted in summer of## 2024 of seven of those charges, three counts# of attempting to influence a public servant,## one count of conspiracy to commit criminal# impersonation, first degree official misconduct,## violation of duty and failing to# comply with the secretary of state.

The district judge sentenced her to nine years# in prison, not mincing words at her sentencing.

JUDGE MATTHEW BARRETT, Mesa County# District Court: Your lies are well## documented and these convictions are# serious.

I'm convinced you would do## it all over again if you could.

You're as# defiant as a defendant as this court has## ever seen.

You are no hero.

You abused# your position.

And you're a charlatan.

LIZ LANDERS: During his second term,# President Trump has repeatedly pressured## the Justice Department and Colorado# officials to pardon or release Peters,## writing in August -- quote -- "If she is not# released, I'm going to take harsh measures."

Democratic Colorado Secretary# of State Jena Griswold spoke## to "PBS News Hour" about that pressure campaign.

JENA GRISWOLD (D), Colorado Secretary# of State: What happens with Trump is,## he tries to push the line, tries to push,# people pretending he has authority that he## does not.

And if they refuse an unlawful order# or an unlawful executive order or request,## then the retaliation starts from# him, but also the far right.

LIZ LANDERS: This is just the latest in a# series of moves to rewrite the 2020 election.## The president recently pardoned prominent members# of his 2020 campaign legal team who had not been## charged with federal crimes, including# Rudy Giuliani and attorney Sidney Powell.

And on his first day in office, he# pardoned more than 1,500 January 6## defendants.

Griswold says that Trump's# pardon for Peters has clear limits.

JENA GRISWOLD: She was convicted# under our state laws in a state court,## and the president does not have authority to## issue pardons for state convictions.# That's very clear in the Constitution.

DANIEL DAY-LEWIS, Actor: I need this!

LIZ LANDERS: But Peters attorney believes# the Constitution i.. a revelation that struck him as he# watched the 2012 film "Lincoln."

DANIEL DAY-LEWIS: I am the president of the United# States of America, clothed in immense power!

PETER TICKTIN: We're looking at it now post# the Civil War, when the central government,## the federal government, became the# strong central government that it is,## that really made the United States into one# cohesive government, one cohesive country,## instead of a conglomeration of# countries, which it originally was.

So when the framers wrote, for# offenses against the United States,## they weren't talking about it.# They were talking about them.

LIZ LANDERS: Are there any examples that you can## think of a president pardoning a# state crime or state conviction?

PETER TICKTIN: So there are, but I really# need to delve into it a little bit deeper.

LIZ LANDERS: Colorado's Democratic Governor Jared# Polis said after the president's announcement## that the courts will decide the matter.

Ticktin# hopes it reaches the highest court in the land.

PETER TICKTIN: The Supreme Court of the United# States has -- a good number of the justices## are fundamentalists.

They are smart enough# to understand that, to understand what the## Constitution really means, you have got to look# at the minds of the founders.

What did they mean?

LIZ LANDERS: Griswold, though,## argues the repercussions would be f.. JENA GRISWOLD: It would set the precedent# that people can attack our elections and## potentially disenfranchise Americans without# any type of consequences.

It would also set## the precedent that, if people break the law and# our friends with Donald Trump, they won't face## consequences.

That's a direct assault to the rule# of law in this country.

And it just cannot stand.

LIZ LANDERS: For the "PBS# News Hour," I'm Liz Landers.