Democrat SOS and Media Blast CO Gov. Polis for Tina Peters' Commutation; Hear How He Sets Them Straight
Colorado Governor Jared Polis commuted the sentence of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters from nine years to four-and-a-half years, citing concerns over sentencing disparities and First Amendment considerations. His decision drew criticism from Democrats and media outlets, who linked the case to broader election denialism narratives. Polis defended his decision, emphasizing that Peters' crime was related to her actions, not her political beliefs.
- ▪Tina Peters was convicted in 2024 for election interference and attempting to influence a public official by accessing voting machine data.
- ▪Governor Polis cited a sentencing disparity with Sonja Jaquez Lewis, a former Democratic state senator, who received probation for similar charges.
- ▪Polis emphasized that sentencing should not be influenced by beliefs protected under the First Amendment, even if those beliefs are considered misguided.
- ▪In interviews, Polis rejected media attempts to link Peters' case directly to former President Trump or the 2020 election controversy.
- ▪The crime involved a municipal election audit, and Polis clarified that Peters had certified the 2020 election results without issue.
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Democrat SOS and Media Blast CO Gov. Polis for Tina Peters' Commutation; Hear How He Sets Them Straight By Jennifer Oliver O'Connell | 7:37 PM on May 16, 2026 The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of RedState.com. AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, File After Colorado Governor Jared Polis' limited commutation of the nine-year sentence for former Mesa County, Colorado, Clerk Tina Peters, he has been blasted nonstop by Democrats, left-leaning journalists, and legacy media outlets. Peters became a lightning rod for election integrity advocates and judicial reformists over her 2024 conviction for election interference and attempting to influence a public official when she exposed voting information from a Dominion machine.
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