10
Loading video...
By Andrew Stanton and Gabe Whisnant
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis, a Democrat, on Friday commuted the sentence of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, following pressure from President Donald Trump, marking another case involving efforts to challenge the 2020 election.
Polis’ announcement is a major win for Peters in one of the most prominent legal battles surrounding claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
President Trump reacted to the news on Truth Social, posting, "FREE TINA!"
Read More on Politics
Polis faced swift backlash from other Democrats in the state over his announcement.
Peters Admits ‘Mistake,’ Pledges to Follow Law and Advocate Reform
Tina Peters issued a statement Friday, shared with Newsweek through her attorney.
"Thank you Gov Polis.
I made mistakes, and for those I am sorry. Five years ago I misled the Secretary of State when allowing a person to gain access to county voting equipment. That was wrong. 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.
I strongly condemned it when people not connected to me threatened to storm the prison I am in. I myself have faced threats, so, I also want to be clear that I condemn any and all bullying, threats and acts of violence against voters, county clerks, election workers, and other public officials, and concerned citizens like myself.
Upon release, I plan to do my best through legal means to support election integrity and based on my own personal experiences to elevate the cause of prison reform to help ensure the detention system is more fair and equitable for people of all ages. My experiences have given me a perspective that plan to share with others to improve Colorado’s corrections system. I am grateful for a second chance and an earlier release, and I look forward to doing good in the world."
...
Why Jared Polis Is Granting Clemency to Tina Peters
The decision followed a statement in Peters’ clemency application, obtained first by CNN from Polis’ office, in which she said she “made a mistake” and acknowledged misleading Colorado election officials—her first such admission since her 2024 conviction.
Polis told CNN he would reduce Peters’ sentence in half to four-and-a-half years, meaning she could be on parole within a month.
“I hope that Democrats don’t sacrifice our deeply held belief in free speech because of political expediency or disregard for what people are saying,” the governor told CNN. “There should be no consideration of what we say, how unpopular it is, how inaccurate it is in sentencing or in criminal proceedings.”
Trump has championed Peters, who was sentenced to nine years in prison after being convicted for her role in a scheme to access and copy her county’s election computer systems. She is expected to be released June 1 on parole and has been serving her sentence in a Pueblo prison.
In April, a Colorado appeals court ordered her to be resentenced, finding the judge had improperly considered her statements about election fraud when imposing the sentence, though it upheld her convictions.
Prosecutors said Peters allowed an outside expert linked to MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell to access election systems during a 2021 update, resulting in sensitive system data, including passwords, being posted online.
Trump celebrated the news on Truth Social, writing, "FREE TINA!"
Who Is Tina Peters?
Peters, 70, was found guilty in August 2024 on charges including attempting to influence a public official; conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation; official misconduct; violation of duty; and failure to comply with an order by the secretary of state.
The trial took place in Mesa County, a solidly Republican area where Trump won 63 percent of the vote in 2020 and 61 percent in 2024.
She was convicted of multiple state crimes related to a 2021 plan in which she allowed an outside computer expert to access Mesa County’s election system without authorization. Images of the voting system’s hard drives—including photos and videos of confidential passwords—were later shared online and posted to a conservative website.
Prosecutors said Peters’ actions compromised election security and fueled misinformation. Peters has said she believed she had a duty as clerk to preserve election data. Peters’ lawyers argued her sentence punished her for protected speech and violated the First Amendment.
Peters was the first election official charged in connection with a security breach tied to claims if widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential race. Trump and other Republicans have repeatedly claimed that fraud was to blame for his loss despite a lack of evidence to back up those claims.
Jared Polis Faces Democratic Backlash Over ‘Mind-Boggling’ Decision
Polis’ decision drew swift backlash from prominent Colorado Democrats.
Secretary of State Jena Griswold, who is running for attorney general, wrote in a statement to Newsweek that clemency for Peters is an “affront to our democracy, the people of Colorado, and election officials across the country.”
“The Governor’s actions today will validate and embolden the election denial movement, and leave a dark, dangerous imprint on American democracy for years to come,” she said.
Attorney General Phil Weiser, who is running for governor, called the move “mind-boggling and wrong as a matter of basic justice” in a statement.
“She was convicted by a jury and sentenced for tampering with election equipment and undermining our elections,” he wrote. “The judge imposed a reasonable sentence based on her criminal conduct, she has shown no remorse for her crimes, and now the governor is taking this unwise and unprecedented step of releasing her from prison early.”
Senator Michael Bennet, who is also running for governor, criticized the move in a post to X.
“I vehemently disagree with Gov. Polis’s decision to commute Tina Peters’ sentence,” he wrote. “She broke the law, undermined our elections, and was convicted by a jury of her peers. With Trump continuing to attack Colorado, we must stand strong for our institutions and the rule of law.”
Representative Brittany Pettersen wrote to X she is “deeply disappointed in this decision.”
“Tina Peters is an election denier who tried to interfere with a free and fair election. She was convicted by a jury of her peers and is serving a sentence because of her egregious actions,” she wrote.
...
Lauren Boebert Praises Clemency as ‘Step Toward Justice’
Representative Lauren Boebert, a conservative and ally to Trump, praised Polis’ decision in a post to X.
“Today’s decision by Governor Jared Polis to commute Tina Peters’ sentence is a long-overdue step toward justice,” she wrote.
The congresswoman added she is “proud of the relentless pressure my office and I applied, working hand-in-hand with President Donald Trump, to highlight Tina’s case and demand fairness.”
“This outcome would not have been possible without the continued pressure and advocacy from President Trump who always knew Tina deserved fairness under the law,” Boebert wrote.
Did Donald Trump Pardon Tina Peters?
Trump announced in December that he planned to grant Peters a full pardon, but any federal action does not overrule state-based convictions. The president has accused Democrats of prosecuting Peters and others who had "wanted Safe and Secure Elections," rather than serious, violent criminals. He has also posted to social media that she is a patriot.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines