Key takeaways:
- The Colorado Democratic Party voted nearly 90% to censure Gov. Jared Polis for commuting Tina Peters' sentence.
- Polis reduced Peters' nearly nine-year sentence by half, making her eligible for parole as early as June 1.
- The party stated the commutation harms its credibility and election integrity efforts and barred Polis from party events.
The Colorado Democratic Party voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to censure Governor Jared Polis following his decision to commute the prison sentence of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, who was convicted of tampering with election equipment. The party’s central committee approved the censure with nearly 90% support, temporarily barring Polis from speaking or participating in party-sponsored events.
Polis reduced Peters’ nearly nine-year sentence by half, making her eligible for parole as early as June 1. He defended his decision, stating, “My goal is to make the right decision with the information I have and that’s exactly what I did in this case.” Polis argued that Peters’ sentence was disproportionate compared to other public corruption cases, noting that most resulted in probation or shorter terms. He also expressed concern that her free speech was improperly factored into her sentencing.
Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubenstein strongly disagreed, describing Peters’ actions as “a months-long pattern of deception to try to violate every security protocol we had.” Rubenstein noted that Peters could have faced up to 20 years in prison and criticized Polis for ignoring the recommendations of his own clemency board and those closely involved in the case. “That’s not humility, that’s arrogance,” Rubenstein said.
The Colorado Democratic Party released a statement condemning the commutation, saying it “materially harmed the Colorado Democratic Party’s institutional credibility and efforts to defend democratic institutions and election integrity.” The party accused Polis of setting a “dangerous and disappointing precedent” by reducing Peters’ sentence “under pressure from Donald Trump,” who had previously symbolically pardoned Peters in December. The statement emphasized that the decision “does not reflect the values, institutional positions, or democratic commitments of the Colorado Democratic Party.”
Peters was convicted in 2024 on four felony and three misdemeanor charges related to a breach of voting systems, including allegations that she used another person’s security badge to grant access to an associate of MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, a known election denier. Peters has acknowledged making mistakes and expressed remorse in her clemency request.
Polis said he considered input from thousands of Coloradans and approached the decision with humility and objectivity. He lamented the partisan divide surrounding the case, stating, “No case should be viewed from a partisan lens. Each case is about an individual and the crime they committed.”
The censure prohibits Polis from participating as an honored guest, featured speaker, or officially recognized representative of the Colorado Democratic Party at party events, including the Obama Gala and DemFest, until further action is taken. Polis’ spokesman, Eric Maruyama, said the governor’s decision was based on the facts and what he believed was right, adding, “Democracy is strongest when disagreement is met with debate and dialogue, not censorship.”
Peters has until Friday to appeal her conviction to the Colorado Supreme Court. Rubenstein expressed skepticism about the sincerity of her remorse, highlighting the ongoing legal process.
Be First to Comment