Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis has reduced the state prison sentence of Tina Peters, a former county clerk convicted of tampering with election equipment, allowing her to be eligible for parole on June 1.
Peters was convicted of facilitating a security breach of Mesa County’s voting machines as clerk and recorder six months after the 2020 election, as part of an effort to prove Trump’s Big Lie of a rigged election.
A state appeals court upheld Peters’ 2024 conviction in April, but stated that she should be re-sentenced by reasoning the trial judge who sentenced Peters to nine years in prison improperly factored in Peters’ right to protected speech.
Governor Polis has been pressured by Trump to pardon Peters, while Democrats and Colorado election officials urged Polis not to issue a commutation.
Trump threatened to withhold federal funds from the state, and Polis said he would consider clemency. By January of this year Polis was expressing concern about the length of Peters’ sentence when compared to others convicted of first time non-violent crimes.
Trump followed up with a symbolic pardon for Peters and said Democratic leaders should “rot in hell.”
“This is not a pardon. It’s really making sure that her free speech was not a criteria for her overly harsh sentencing. So I really think that in the scheme of things, this will take the wind out of the sails of those who argued that there was something awry here,” Polis said.
Polis also says he will push back against any attempt for Trump to pardon Peters of her crimes.
Polis said in her clemency application Peters admitted to making a mistake, which is not something she’s publicly stated.
“And then critically, she understands and has committed in this process to following the law going forward. I don’t believe her beliefs will change. I think she’s going to say nutty things. I think she’s going to believe in different things that are demonstrably false, but that’s not a crime in our country,” he said.
Colorado Dems and election officials disagree with Polis’ decision.
“I don’t think that anything that we do is going to change Trump’s mind,” said Democratic state Rep. Kyle Brown. “I do not support the idea of clemency for Tina Peters. Tina Peters put our elections at risk and I believe that she needs to suffer the consequences of those actions.”
Attorney General Phil Weiser and Sen. Michael Bennet, both Democrats running to succeed Polis, agree with Brown’s stance.
Election clerks in Colorado have said Peters has shown no remorse and will likely push others to act illegally if given the opportunity.