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Common Cause Condemns Commuted Sentence for Tina Peters [1]

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Date: 2026-05 

Common Cause condemns Governor Jared Polis’ decision to commute the sentence of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, warning that the move sends a dangerous signal for election security and accountability.

Tina Peters was convicted by a jury of her peers on multiple felony charges for her role in breaching secure election equipment and allowing unauthorized access to Colorado’s voting systems. A Republican district attorney prosecuted the case and sentenced her to 9 years in prison. Upholding that verdict was Governor Polis’ minimum responsibility to Coloradans and to our democracy, and he failed.

Statement of Aly Belknap, Common Cause’s Colorado Executive Director:

“Today, Governor Polis delivered a victory to every person urging President Trump to seize control of elections in 2026. By commuting Tina Peters’ sentence, Governor Polis dealt a massive blow to Colorado’s ability to run its own elections and uphold its own judicial system.

This decision sends a dangerous message that Colorado will tolerate criminal meddling in election systems and equipment when it is done to make a political statement. Authoritarians create martyrs out of people like Tina Peters to fuel outrage, mobilize supporters, and excuse lawbreaking in service of their agenda.

But authoritarians cannot dismantle democracy on their own. They need powerful people to give them consent. Today, Governor Polis gave President Trump that consent. This is a shameful day for Colorado.

Governor Polis’ decision undermines election security, weakens accountability, and permanently stains his legacy.”

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[1] Url: https://www.commoncause.org/colorado/press/common-cause-condemns-clemency-for-tina-peters/

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