A federal magistrate judge on Monday denied former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters’ request to be released on bond while appealing her state conviction for orchestrating a data breach scheme tied to 2020 election fraud claims.

Peters argued her nine-year sentence violated her First Amendment rights, claiming she was punished for speaking out about alleged election fraud, but prosecutors noted judges can consider speech relevant to sentencing.

Peters’ attorneys cited past cases where federal courts released state prisoners on bond over free speech issues, but Judge Scott Varholak ruled Peters did not make a sufficient case for federal intervention.

Supporters, including Donald Trump and former national security adviser Michael Flynn, have called for her release, claiming she could aid investigations into the 2020 election, the AP has reported.

Colorado officials maintain there is no evidence of widespread election fraud, and defended state elections.