Colorado Democratic Governor Jared Polis commuted the prison sentence of convicted former election clerk Tina Peters on Friday after President Donald Trump publicly demanded her release, marking another instance of political interference in state criminal justice matters.

Governor Frees Convicted Election Clerk

Polis reduced the sentence of Tina Peters, the former Mesa County Clerk and Recorder who was convicted of serious crimes related to election interference. In April, a Colorado appeals court upheld her conviction but ordered resentencing, arguing the original judge improperly punished her for speaking about election fraud claims. Despite acknowledging Peters committed serious crimes and deserved prison time, Polis characterized her sentence as unusually lengthy for a first-time, nonviolent offender. Trump posted on Truth Social around the announcement time, writing simply: “FREE TINA!”

Democrats Blast Decision As Surrender

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold condemned the commutation as a betrayal of justice, calling it “a dark day for democracy” and accusing Polis of “selling out our state’s justice system for Trump.” Griswold warned the decision sends a dangerous message that breaking laws to attack democracy on behalf of the president carries no real consequences. Senator Michael Bennet, a Democrat running for Colorado governor, also expressed strong opposition to the clemency decision. Peters issued a statement through her attorney apologizing and admitting she misled the Secretary of State five years ago when allowing unauthorized access to county voting equipment.

Pattern Of Presidential Interference

The commutation represents the latest example of Trump using executive influence to benefit supporters who promoted his unfounded claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Peters became a prominent figure among election conspiracy theorists after her conviction for crimes related to election system tampering. In her statement, Peters claimed she has learned from her time in prison and committed to following the law going forward, while also condemning threats and violence against election workers. The case highlights ongoing tensions between federal political pressure and state criminal justice systems, particularly regarding election-related prosecutions.