{"id":287,"date":"2026-05-21T19:33:49","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T19:33:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coloradorelocationreport.com\/?p=287"},"modified":"2026-05-21T19:33:49","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T19:33:49","slug":"colorado-senator-will-bring-amendment-to-stop-trumps-1-8b-compensation-fund-from-paying-tina-peters-others-who-affected-elections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coloradorelocationreport.com\/?p=287","title":{"rendered":"Colorado senator will bring amendment to stop Trump\u2019s $1.8B compensation fund from paying Tina Peters, others who affected elections"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper plans to force Republicans to vote on an amendment aimed at prohibiting the Trump administration from sending money to former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters and others convicted of crimes that affected elections or election equipment from a $1.8 billion fund created to compensate allies of the GOP president who believe they have been unjustly investigated and prosecuted.<\/p>\n

Read more Watch: The Colorado Sun discusses the 2026 legislative session with Gov. Jared Polis<\/a><\/p>\n

The \u201cAnti-Weaponization Fund\u201d of $1.776 billion is part of a settlement that resolves President Donald Trump\u2019s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns. It will allow people who believe they were targeted for prosecution for political purposes, including by the Biden administration Justice Department, to apply for payouts, creating what acting Attorney General Todd Blanche called \u201ca lawful process for victims of lawfare and weaponization to be heard and seek redress.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Colorado Democrat\u2019s amendment was to be voted on late Thursday or early Friday as the U.S. Senate was set to debate a roughly $70 billion bill brought by Republicans to restore funding to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Border Patrol. But that vote appears to have been postponed until June after a two-hour meeting on Thursday between Senate Republicans and Blanche, according to the New York Times.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Instead of trying to pass a filibuster-proof bill before a weeklong recess, Republicans appear set on tabling the matter over some members\u2019 hesitation in backing the compensation fund.<\/p>\n

Hickenlooper plans to introduce his amendment whenever the bill to fund immigration enforcement is taken up. The amendment targets anyone convicted of crimes related to state or federal election interference, impersonation, identity theft, official misconduct, violation of duty in elections and failure to comply with the requirements of the secretary of state, according to his office.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s possible, if not likely, Hickenlooper\u2019s amendment fails, but it will force Republican senators to go on the record about the payments.<\/p>\n

Read more What\u2019s Happening: A literary festival in the mountains<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cElection deniers who break the law are not victims. They are criminals. The last thing we should do is reward these people with your taxpayer dollars,\u201d Hickenlooper said in a written statement. \u201cInstead of lowering costs, President Trump is creating a $1.8 billion slush fund for people like Tina Peters who tried to undermine our free and fair election system. Our amendment stops it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Vice President J.D. Vance this week told reporters that Peters was a prime candidate to receive money from the highly controversial fund.\u00a0<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Peters\u2019 nine-year prison sentence for orchestrating a security breach of Mesa County\u2019s election system in 2021 was cut in half last week by Democratic Gov. Jared Polis, who is facing growing backlash from his party over the move.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe machinery of government should never be weaponized against any American, and it is this Department\u2019s intention to make right the wrongs that were previously done while ensuring this never happens again,\u201d Blanche said in a statement that made no mention of how investigations and prosecutions of Trump\u2019s political opponents under his watch have exposed the Justice Department to the same claims of politicized law enforcement that he said he opposed.<\/p>\n

Democrats have blasted the fund as being corrupt and unconstitutional.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Hickenlooper plans to vote \u201cno\u201d on the Department of Homeland Security funding bill. He wants an overhaul of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement before sending more money to the agency.<\/p>\n

Read more How Colorado veterans are harvesting benefits with Goodwill farming program<\/a><\/p>\n

The Associated Press contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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