Tina Peters, a former Colorado official convicted of allowing election machine tampering, has been released from state prison following a pressure campaign by US President Donald Trump.

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold opposed the release, stating it sends a dangerous message about accountability for those who attack elections and emboldens the election denial movement.

Peters, a Trump supporter, was part of the movement that rejected Trump's 2020 loss as fraudulent. She allowed an unauthorized person to access local electronic voting systems and copy hard drives while serving as Mesa County clerk.

She was sentenced to nine years in state prison. Trump and allies portrayed her as a victim of political persecution, but federal clemency does not apply to state charges.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis granted clemency, calling the sentence disproportionate for a first-time nonviolent offender. The decision drew criticism from Democrats and watchdog groups.

Upon release, Peters repeated unsubstantiated election fraud claims on Steve Bannon's podcast, drawing backlash from critics who noted her lack of remorse.

Source: www.aljazeera.com