Newly released surveillance footage from a Colorado correctional facility reveals former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters initiated physical contact with another inmate during a confrontation Sunday evening, contradicting statements made by her legal team about the incident.
The video, obtained through a public records request by The Denver Post, shows Peters physically grabbing another prisoner by the neck and pushing her during what corrections officials describe as a brief altercation. The footage appears to undermine claims from Peters’ defense attorneys, who characterized the Trump ally as the victim of an unprovoked assault.
🔥🚨BREAKING: Former Colorado Republican County Clerk Tina Peters was assaulted in prison and had to defend herself. Peters confirms she was assaulted first.
Peters is a political prisoner who was sent to prison by Biden’s DOJ. She is a senior citizen she has no business around… pic.twitter.com/vPASXBjgsR
— Dom Lucre | Breaker of Narratives (@dom_lucre) January 20, 2026
What the Surveillance Footage Reveals
According to the video evidence, the incident unfolded as Peters was maneuvering a large cart toward a storage closet in a common area of the facility. After positioning the cart at the closet entrance and entering the space, Peters encountered another inmate who appeared to be carrying cleaning supplies.
The other prisoner attempted to move the cart away from the closet door, prompting Peters to emerge and initiate physical contact. The footage clearly shows Peters placing one hand on the woman’s neck while gripping her right arm with the other, before shoving her toward the center of the room. Following what appears to be a brief verbal exchange, Peters pushed the other inmate away.
While portions of Peters’ actions are obscured by the closet structure during the initial moments of the confrontation, the other inmate remains visible throughout most of the incident. Both women eventually left the area and walked down a hallway without further incident.
Official Response and Contradictory Claims
Colorado Department of Corrections spokesperson Alondra Gonzalez-Garcia confirmed Monday evening that Peters was involved in an altercation with another prisoner but emphasized that no injuries occurred. Neither woman faced criminal charges related to the incident, and Peters was subsequently transferred to a different housing unit within the facility. The corrections system does not utilize solitary confinement at that particular location, according to Gonzalez-Garcia.
The official account and video evidence directly contradict statements issued by Peters’s supporters and legal representation. In a news release, her defense team claimed Peters had been “assaulted” while in the closet and suggested she might face criminal prosecution as a result of the incident.
VIDEO: Tina Peters in prison scuffle.
Peters says she was assaulted first. pic.twitter.com/0fiPg3wEMz— Jeff Hunt (@jeffhunt) January 20, 2026
Defense attorney Peter Ticktin told former Trump adviser Steve Bannon during a Monday broadcast that Peters had been attacked “from behind.” Ticktin did not respond to requests for comment following the video’s release. The discrepancy between the defense’s characterization and the surveillance footage raises questions about the accuracy of initial reports surrounding the confrontation.
Background on Peters’ Conviction and Imprisonment
Peters received a combined nine-year sentence in October 2024 following her conviction on multiple charges related to providing unauthorized third-party access to Mesa County’s election systems. The former county clerk became a prominent figure among election conspiracy theorists and maintains strong support from Trump and his political allies.
Her case has become a rallying point for conservatives who argue she was wrongfully prosecuted for her actions. Trump issued a federal pardon for Peters in late 2025, though legal experts have questioned the document’s validity and applicability to state-level convictions. The former president has repeatedly called on Colorado officials and Governor Jared Polis to secure Peters’ release.
Peters is currently appealing her conviction, and a state appeals court recently expressed some skepticism regarding the length of her sentence during proceedings last week.
Political Pressure and Clemency Considerations
Governor Polis has acknowledged he is reviewing a clemency request for Peters and has characterized her sentence as both “harsh” and “unusual.” However, when pressed by reporters last week, Polis declined to reveal whether he has discussed the case with Trump administration officials or considered Peters’ release as part of broader negotiations with federal authorities.
The governor has denied that any discussions about Peters’ potential release involve trading her freedom for restored federal funding or other political considerations. His comments suggest the case remains under active review despite opposition from various state officials.
FREE TINA PETERS!
This is the recent alleged altercation that took place, while incarcerated, with Tina and another inmate.
The reason they are keeping her is because she has the proof to burn the house down and prove election fraud in the 2020 election. pic.twitter.com/QEqn3AnyK9
— The SCIF (@TheSCIF) January 20, 2026
Several prominent Colorado officials have urged Polis to maintain Peters’ current sentence. Attorney General Phil Weiser, Secretary of State Jena Griswold, and a coalition of county clerks have all requested that the governor leave the punishment unchanged, arguing that reducing or commuting the sentence would send the wrong message about election security violations.
Prison Record Shows Mixed Adjustment
Peters’ institutional file, also obtained through public records requests, indicates she experienced adjustment difficulties during her first year of incarceration. Between April and July 2025, she received four disciplinary write-ups that resulted in prison officials rejecting her application for placement in a special housing unit.
While portions of her file remain redacted, visible infractions appear to involve relatively minor issues such as loitering and “hiding.” The documentation suggests Peters told prison staff in August 2025 that she expected imminent release, indicating her belief that political intervention might secure her freedom.
The file also reveals that in December, after officials denied her request to visit her hospitalized mother, Peters expressed frustration with her continued detention. The incomplete nature of the records leaves questions about the full scope of her institutional behavior and adjustment to prison life.
Implications for Ongoing Legal and Political Battles
The surveillance video’s release adds another layer of complexity to Peters’ situation as she navigates both her criminal appeal and efforts to secure clemency. The contradiction between her legal team’s characterization of Sunday’s incident and the actual footage could potentially impact public perception of her case and influence political decisions about her future.
The incident also highlights the challenges Peters faces in maintaining the victim narrative that has been central to her supporters’ campaign for her release. With clear video evidence showing her as the aggressor in the prison altercation, her defense team may need to recalibrate their public messaging strategy.
As Peters’ appeal moves forward and Governor Polis continues weighing clemency options, the prison altercation serves as a reminder that her legal troubles extend beyond her original conviction. The incident, while not resulting in criminal charges, demonstrates ongoing difficulties in her institutional adjustment and may influence decisions about her future confinement conditions.