Colorado Governor Jared Polis Commutes Election Denier Tina Peters' Nine-Year Sentence
Colorado Governor Jared Polis has commuted the nine-year prison sentence handed to Tina Peters, a former Republican county clerk found guilty of tampering with election equipment after the 2020 presidential election.
Peters, who previously served as Mesa County's top election official, was convicted in August 2024 on seven counts related to breaching election computer systems and allowing unauthorised access to voting machinery and records. Her actions were predicated on unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud following Donald Trump's loss in the 2020 election.
Governor Polis, who had previously described Peters' sentence as "harsh", stated on Friday that she would be released on parole in June. This decision has been met with immediate condemnation from within his own party. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold called it "an affront to our democracy", while Attorney General Phil Weiser labelled it "truly mind-boggling" and an "affront to the rule of law."
Donald Trump, who has consistently advocated for Peters' release, posted "FREE TINA!" on social media moments after the announcement.
Defending his action, Governor Polis maintained that while Peters did commit a crime, her sentence was "simply disproportionate for a first time, non-violent offender." He clarified that he was "not pardoning Tina Peters, and I have never considered a pardon," acknowledging her actions were "clearly illegal, wrong, and financially costly to Mesa County, and Colorado."
However, Colorado Democratic Senator John Hickenlooper argued that "reducing her sentence sends the wrong message to those seeking to undermine trust in our elections." Even some Republicans, such as Matt Crane, Executive Director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, expressed outrage, stating he was "furious, disgusted, and deeply disappointed by the Governor's decision."
In a statement shared through her lawyer, Peters expressed remorse, saying, "I made mistakes, and for those I am sorry. I have learned and grown during my time in prison and going forward I will make sure that my actions always follow the law, and I will avoid the mistakes of the past."
