Colorado Democrats censure Gov. Polis over Tina Peters sentence commutation

Colorado Democrats formally censured Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday after he commuted the prison sentence of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, a prominent election denier convicted in a voting system violation case.

The Colorado Democratic Party State Central Committee voted Wednesday to censure fellow Democrat Polis after issuing a controversial sentence commute for Peters, who was convicted in connection with a 2021 voting equipment violation case.

“Reducing the sentence now under pressure from Donald Trump is not justice,” the party said in a statement. he said. “This sends a message to future bad actors that unless you’re friends with the president, there will be consequences for interfering in elections.”

“This sets a dangerous and disappointing precedent,” the statement said.

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The party accused Polis of “materially damaging” the credibility of the state party and barred him from attending official events sponsored by the Democratic Party.

It also stated that the pardon decision “does not reflect the values, institutional positions, or democratic commitments of the Colorado Democratic Party.”

When reached for comment, a Polis spokesperson defended the governor’s decision in a statement to Fox News Digital.

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Colorado Governor Jared Polis speaks with members of the media in the spin room after the first vice presidential debate at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York on October 1, 2024. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

“The governor made this decision based on the facts of the case and what he believed was the right thing to do,” the spokesman said. “Sometimes what is right is not what is popular for everyone. Democracy is strongest when disagreements are met with debate and dialogue, not censorship.”

The condemnation comes after the Police granted amnesty to 44 people last Friday, including 35 amnesties and nine commutations.

Peters was among those who commuted his prison sentence and became eligible for parole starting June 1, 2026.

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Lawyers for former Colorado election official Tina Peters filed a motion seeking her release from prison and urged the appeals court to recognize the pardon granted by President Donald Trump. The motion argues that Trump’s pardon applies to Peters’ state convictions; Colorado officials disputed that claim as the court considered its jurisdiction. (Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)

Peters became a nationally known figure among 2020 election skeptics following the Mesa County voting equipment breach controversy and subsequent criminal prosecution.

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According to the decree signed on Friday, Peters’ sentence was reduced from eight years and three months to four years and four and a half months.

The decision also stated that the act of amnesty “will not affect the underlying criminal conviction in any way.”

In 2024, Peters was convicted of three counts of attempting to influence a public official, as well as conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, official misconduct, breach of duty, and failure to comply with state department requirements.

In its statement announcing the pardons, the police said, “The power of pardon is a serious responsibility and not one that I will take lightly.”

“This power has the ability to change lives – help give someone who has made serious mistakes a second chance – and this brings about great thought and sometimes even discussion,” he added.

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The move was immediately condemned by Democrats, including Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, who accused Polis of legitimizing the “election denial movement.”

Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.