by Misty Severi
Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis commuted the sentence of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters on Friday, shortening her nearly nine-year prison sentence related to the 2020 election.
Peters was sentenced to nine years in prison in 2024 but an appeals court ruled last month that she needs to be resentenced after part of the sentence punished Peters for her protected speech regarding fraud claims in the 2020 election.
Polis denied that the commutation was an attempt to appease President Donald Trump, instead highlighting that Peters was a first-time nonviolent offender who was given an “unusually harsh sentence.”
“She committed a crime; she deserves to be a convicted felon,” Polis told the New York Times, claiming her views on the 2020 election shouldn’t have impacted her sentence. “I think it’s an important message we send out, that supports free speech in our country.”
On social media, Peters apologized for her actions.
“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,” she said.
“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,” Peters said.
She noted upon her release she plans to do her “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,” she said.
The 70-year-old Peters was found guilty of three counts of attempting to influence a public servant and one count each of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, first-degree official misconduct, violation of duty, and failure to comply with the requirements of the secretary of state.
Polis also commuted the sentences of eight other state residents and pardoned 35 people.
Peters will be released on parole effective June 1.
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Misty Severi is a reporter for Just the News. Zachery Schmidt is the digital editor of The Star News Network and contributed to this story.
Photo “Tina Peters” by Tina Peters.
