Colorado Gov. Polis Commutes Tina Peters After Trump
Get the Geopolitics newsletter
Daily geopolitics — wars, elections, sanctions, the diplomatic moves that move markets. Free.
- Gov. Jared Polis commuted the sentence of former Mesa County election clerk Tina Peters, releasing her from prison on June 1 after a nine‑year term.
- President Donald Trump posted “FREE TINA!” on Truth Social and criticized Polis and the district attorney for keeping Peters incarcerated.
- Colorado appeals court upheld Peters’ conviction but ordered a resentencing, saying the original judge wrongly punished her for speaking about election fraud.
- Tina Peters was convicted of a scheme to copy Mesa County’s Dominion Voting Systems server with an outside expert linked to Mike Lindell, and was sentenced to nine years for non‑violent, first‑time offenses.
- Secretary of State Jena Griswold called the commutation “a dark day for democracy” and said it “sells out our state’s justice system for Trump.”
- Sen. Michael Bennet denounced the commutation, warning that lawlessness breeds more lawlessness and urging defense of institutions.
- Governor Polis justified the action by noting the sentence was unusually harsh for a non‑violent, first‑time offender and highlighted Peters’ acceptance of responsibility.
Why it matters: The commutation benefits Tina Peters, who will be freed, while undermining the credibility of Colorado’s justice system and emboldening political interference; Democrats and election officials lose a deterrent against election‑fraud conspiracies, and the decision fuels criticism that the governor is yielding to Trump’s influence.
