2020 election denier Tina Peters granted clemency by governor
Tina Peters, the former county clerk who was convicted in a scheme to breach voting systems in search of evidence of election fraud in 2020, has been granted clemency by Colorado Gov. Jared Polis.
In the clemency letter released on Friday, Polis said Peters' nearly nine-year sentence for nonviolent offenses was "extremely unusual and lengthy" for a first-time offender, and said she would be released on parole effective June 1, 2026.
Peters, a former Mesa County clerk, was convicted on charges of giving an individual affiliated with MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, a Trump ally, access to the election software she used for her county.
Election officials in Colorado have pushed back for years against Peters' claims about the 2020 election and have said there is no proof of election interference in the state.
"You were sentenced to 6 months in County Jail and 8 years and 3 months in the Department of Corrections, for a total sentence of almost 9 years," Polis, a Democrat, said in his letter. "The crimes you were convicted of are very serious and you deserve to spend time in prison for these offenses. However, this is an extremely unusual and lengthy sentence for a first time offender who committed nonviolent crimes."
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold blasted Polis' decision, calling it "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," Griswold said in a statement.
Peters, after her clemency was announced Friday, apologized on social media, saying, "I made mistakes, and for those I am sorry" and that "upon release, I plan to do my best through legal means to support election integrity."
"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 wrote. "I am grateful for a second chance and an earlier release, and I look forward to doing good in the world."
In December, President Donald Trump announced a pardon for Peters, despite the president not having jurisdiction over state charges.
