Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has once more signaled that he thinks Tina Peters’ jail sentence was too harsh as he considers granting some type of clemency — although not a full pardon, his workplace confirmed Wednesday.
In a social media put up Tuesday evening, Polis — who has additionally confronted months of strain from President Donald Trump to launch Peters — in contrast the disgraced former Mesa County clerk’s punishment to a state senator just lately convicted on the identical expenses.
Polis wrote on the social platform X that the previous lawmaker, Sonya Jaquez Lewis, was sentenced to probation and neighborhood service final week after being convicted of trying to affect a public servant earlier this 12 months. The previous senator, a Democrat, was charged final 12 months with that crime in addition to forgery after falsifying letters of help in an effort to struggle a legislative ethics probe.
Peters, a Republican clerk who collaborated with discredited election conspiracy theorists and offered entry to safe voting gear, was additionally convicted of trying to affect a public servant, together with different expenses. She was sentenced to 9 years in jail and jail.
Polis stated it was “not misplaced on me” that one among their felony expenses was the identical.
“Justice in Colorado and America must be utilized evenly, you by no means know whenever you may must depend upon the rule of legislation,” Polis wrote. “That is the context I’m utilizing as I contemplate instances like this which have sentencing disparities, which is why I’ve prolonged the deadline for clemency purposes till April third.”
The feedback, which Polis’ workplace defended Wednesday morning, drew a caustic response from Democratic lawmakers.
“With out discounting in any respect what Sen. Jaquez Lewis did, there’s a materials distinction between submitting false paperwork to a tribunal, and aiding within the tried rebellion and overthrow of the duly elected president of the USA,” stated Rep. Steven Woodrow, a Denver Democrat. “Tina Peters fanned the flames of Trump’s large lie. And that’s materially totally different than something even approaching what Sen. Jaquez Lewis did. I hope the governor thinks lengthy and laborious about that materials distinction earlier than he decides to do (something).”
“I’m astonished that one would make such a comparability,” added Rep. Emily Sirota, additionally of Denver.
Secretary of State Jena Griswold and Dan Rubinstein, the Mesa County district legal professional who led Peters’ prosecution, each equally drew a distinction between Jaquez Lewis’ conduct and that of Peters. Rubinstein wrote in an announcement that there was a motive the legislature had given judges a spread of sentencing choices, even for folks convicted of the identical crime.
He acknowledged that Polis had the authority to cut back Peters’ sentence however wrote that doing so “can be a gross injustice to the affected residents I characterize.”
“Peters’ … actions are nonetheless getting used to attempt to undermine the 2026 election. She ought to get no particular remedy by the governor, and his assertion is surprising and worrisome,” Griswold stated in a separate assertion.
A number of different Democratic lawmakers expressed disappointment or concern with Polis’ feedback Wednesday. Sen. Robert Rodriguez, the Senate’s majority chief, stated he didn’t assume Polis ought to intervene, and he famous that Peters has proven no regret for attempting to undermine the state’s election methods.
The X put up was the most recent sign that Polis could commute Peters’ sentence, which he earlier referred to as “harsh” and “uncommon.” Although his put up leaned on Jaquez Lewis’ current conviction, Polis’ curiosity in lowering Peter’s sentence predates the previous lawmaker’s January trial.
A lot of public officers — Griswold, Rubinstein, Lawyer Basic Phil Weiser and a coalition of county clerks — have repeatedly urged the governor to not cut back Peters’ sentence, and comparable efforts have been made behind the scenes.
The Colorado Court docket of Appeals is weighing the size of Peters’ sentence, and its judges have indicated they could cut back it.
In October 2024, she obtained three-and-a-half years in jail on two counts of trying to affect a public official and one other three-and-a-half years on a 3rd rely of the identical cost, in accordance with a submitting from the legal professional normal’s workplace. The remainder of her sentence was for different expenses. She could possibly be eligible for parole in lower than two years.
In an announcement Wednesday, Polis spokeswoman Shelby Wieman stated he was not contemplating a pardon for Peters however was weighing clemency.
“The governor has expressed skepticism round this inmate’s sentence and was noting the distinction in sentencing for 2 folks, each public officers, with the identical cost,” she wrote.
The governor did discover help from one federal lawmaker.
“So a former Democrat State Senator right here in Colorado was charged and convicted of the SAME THING as Tina Peters,” U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, a Republican, wrote on X. “She was given PROBATION. Tina Peters was sentenced to 9 YEARS in jail. FREE TINA PETERS.”
Lawmakers have already weighed voice their displeasure with the governor’s place. Senate Democrats have mentioned sending the governor a letter opposing any change to Peters’ sentence (although no letter has been despatched). Democrats within the Home have mentioned a legislative response. Whereas lawmakers are nonetheless discussing proceed, the accessible choices additionally embody an effort to censure Polis.
“I’d be stunned if there weren’t (a response from the legislature),” Woodrow stated. “Every thing’s on the desk. There are ongoing conversations amongst colleagues. We’re taking a wait-and-see method.”
The previous Mesa County clerk’s jail time period has turn into a trigger celebre amongst election-deniers allied with Trump. The president has repeatedly blasted Polis for not releasing Peters, and he issued a pardon for her late final 12 months. However the transfer was primarily symbolic — as a result of Peters was convicted of state expenses, solely Polis can cut back or finish her sentence.
However for months, the Trump administration has focused Colorado repeatedly via federal funding cuts, closures or relocations of federal services within the state, and the veto of a invoice offering financing for a consuming water pipeline in southeastern Colorado. Trump prompt a hyperlink to Peters for a few of the choices.
Pressed by reporters earlier this 12 months, Polis refused to say if he’d had conversations with the Trump administration about Peters. He denied that he’d mentioned releasing her as a part of a commerce for restored federal funding or different advantages from the federal authorities.
However that hasn’t slowed criticism from lawmakers.
Rodriguez stated he didn’t know if Polis’ curiosity was pushed by respectable coverage issues or by “exterior pressures.” Rep. Lorena Garcia, an Adams County Democrat, argued that Polis’ curiosity in Peters’ sentence was proof that the governor was “attempting to proceed to do favors for the administration.”
In an announcement Wednesday morning, Weiser famous the president’s “strain marketing campaign” to launch Peters. Commuting her sentence after that marketing campaign, he stated, “can be a severe injustice and ship the incorrect message to those that would try and tamper with our elections — if you’re rich or politically linked, you’ll be able to escape justice. Worst of all, releasing her early would erode confidence in our system of justice as based mostly on equity, fairness, and the legislation.”
Home Speaker Julie McCluskie declined to touch upon Polis’ newest Peters put up. However a spokesman stated her place on Peters has not modified.
In her opening day speech in January, McCluskie argued that “this administration will goal Colorado it doesn’t matter what we do,” and state officers ought to “do what’s proper.”
These feedback, she later advised JHB, had been in reference to Peters.
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