Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Friday commuted the state prison sentence for Tina Peters, a former county clerk who was convicted of tampering with voting equipment under the guise of unfounded 2020 election-fraud conspiracies.
Peters was one of the first and most prominent public officials to serve prison time for actions challenging the presidential election that President Donald Trump, who lost the race, said was rigged. Polis, a Democrat who has often butted heads with other members of his party, said his decision to grant clemency for the former county clerk and 43 other individuals came “with great consideration, and sometimes even controversy.”
“I’m not pardoning her,” he told The Colorado Sun on Friday. “I publicly have said very early on I would not even consider a pardon. She’s a convicted felon. She deserves to be a convicted felon. She will remain a convicted felon.”
Peters has been serving a nine-year sentence, which has now been cut in half. She’ll be eligible for parole on June 1.
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In 2024, Peters was convicted for a May 2021 scheme to breach her county’s voting equipment when she allowed an unauthorized man to use a security card to access the Mesa County election system. The man — affiliated with My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell, a dominant voice within election-denial circles — and took images of the system’s hard drive before and after a software upgrade.
During the trial, Peters insisted she was acting in service of the county and did not intentionally break the law. The judge disagreed.
“I am convinced you would do it all over again if you could. You’re as defiant as any defendant this court has ever seen,” District Judge Matthew Barrett told her during sentencing. “You are no hero. You abused your position and you’re a charlatan.”
In a Friday statement on X, Peters — who describes herself as a “frmr Election Official Whistleblower with 7 Felonies and 5 misdemeanors” in her bio — said she has learned from her time in prison and will avoid future mistakes. Peters’ account continued to post throughout her imprisonment, including written letters to Trump in extended posts.
“Upon release, I plan to do my best through legal means to support election integrity,” she wrote.
Trump had issued her a symbolic pardon last December. While limited in his capacity to free her from prison because she was convicted of a state crime, he repeatedly called for Colorado politicians to “free” her or face “harsh measures.” The president posted “FREE TINA!” on Truth Social soon after Friday’s announcement.
Polis’ controversial decision puts him further at odds with members of his party at the state and national level. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said the governor’s actions “validate and embolden the election denial movement, and leave a dark, dangerous imprint on American democracy for years to come.”
Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet, who is running to succeed the term-limited governor, said he “vehemently disagrees” with the commutation.
“Lawlessness only breeds more lawlessness. With President Trump continuing to attack Colorado, we must do everything we can to stand strong for our institutions and the rule of law,” Bennet said in a statement.
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