Colorado Governor Cuts Tina Peters' Prison Sentence in Half, Approving June Release

Colorado Governor Jared Polis announced on Friday that he is cutting the prison sentence of disgraced election denier and former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters by half. The reduction makes Peters eligible for release next month.

Why it matters: The move follows repeated calls from the Trump administration for Peters to be freed. President Donald Trump pardoned her late last year despite having no jurisdiction over state-level cases.

Key details:

• Peters is expected to be released on June 1.
• She had been serving a roughly nine-year sentence for tampering with county voting and records equipment after the 2020 election.

Reactions:

Polis' decision drew immediate condemnation from high-profile Democrats, including Attorney General Phil Weiser and Secretary of State Jena Griswold, who both issued statements on Friday.

"Gov. Polis' commutation of Tina Peters' sentence is mind-boggling and wrong as a matter of basic justice," Weiser said, calling the decision "caving" to Trump.

"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.

Trump's response:

"FREE TINA!" President Trump wrote in a Truth Social post shortly after the decision.

Polis' statement:

"[Clemency] has the ability to change lives ... and it comes with great consideration, and sometimes even controversy," Polis said in a statement. He added that his decision came after a careful review.

Additional clemency actions:

Peters was among 44 people who received clemency on Friday. The governor issued 35 pardons and nine commutations, per a statement from the governor's office.