Colorado Democrats censure Gov. Polis over Tina Peters sentence commutation
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Colorado Democrats formally censured Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday after commuting the prison sentence of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, a prominent election denier convicted in an election system violation case.
The Colorado Democratic Party’s State Central Committee voted Wednesday to censure Polis, a fellow Democrat, after issuing a controversial commutation for Peters, who was convicted in a 2021 voting equipment violation case.
“Reducing his sentence now, under pressure from Donald Trump, is not justice,” the party said in a statement. “This sends the message to future bad actors that election tampering has consequences, unless you are friends with the president.”
“This is a dangerous and disappointing precedent to set,” the statement added.
COLORADO GOVERNOR COMMUTS TINA PETERS SENTENCE AS TRUMP PUBLISHES “TINA FREE!” »
Mesa County Clerk and Clerk Tina Peters speaks during a rally on the west steps of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, April 5, 2022. (Hyoung Chang/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
The party accused Polis of “materially harming” the state party’s credibility and barred him from participating in official events sponsored by the Democratic Party.
He also said the clemency decision “does not reflect the values, institutional positions or democratic commitments of the Colorado Democratic Party.”
When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Polis defended the governor’s decision in a statement to Fox News Digital.
Trump continues to push for release of Tina Peters as Colorado governor weighs clemency
Colorado Governor Jared Polis speaks to the media in the press room after the first vice presidential debate at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York on October 1, 2024. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“The governor made this decision based on the facts of the case and what he believed was the right thing to do,” the spokesperson said. “Sometimes not everyone likes the right thing. Democracy is strongest when disagreements result in debate and dialogue, not censorship.”
This reprimand comes after Polis announced pardons for 44 people last Friday, including 35 pardons and nine commutations.
Peters was among those receiving a commutation, reducing her prison sentence and making her eligible for parole starting June 1, 2026.
APPEAL JUDGE APPEARS SKEPTICAL ABOUT Colorado PRO-TRUMP CLERK TINA PETERS’ SENTENCE
Lawyers for former Colorado election official Tina Peters have filed a motion seeking her release from prison and urged the appeals court to recognize President Donald Trump’s pardon. The motion argues that Trump’s pardon applies to Peters’ convictions in the state, an assertion disputed by Colorado officials as the court considers its jurisdiction. (Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)
Peters became a nationally known figure among 2020 election skeptics following the Mesa County voting equipment breach controversy and subsequent criminal prosecution.
President Donald Trump quickly weighed in on the commutation, posting on Truth Social: “FREE TINA!”
According to the decree signed Friday, Peters’ sentence was reduced from eight years and three months to four years and four and a half months.
The order also specified that the clemency action “shall in no way affect the underlying criminal conviction.”
Peters was convicted in 2024 of three counts of attempting to influence a public official, as well as conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, official misconduct, breach of duty and failure to comply with requirements of the Secretary of State.
In a statement announcing the pardons, Polis said, “the power of pardon is a serious responsibility, and I do not take it lightly.”
“This power has the ability to change lives – to help give a second chance to someone who has made serious mistakes – and it comes with great consideration, and sometimes even controversy,” he added.
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The move was immediately condemned by Democrats, including Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, who accused Polis of legitimizing “the election denial movement.”
Jasmine Baehr of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
