Colorado's Democratic governor will let Trump ally Tina Peters out of prison early

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: NPR

May 15, 2026 4:45 PM ET


DENVER — Colorado Democratic Gov. Jared Polis has reduced the state prison sentence of Tina Peters, a former county clerk convicted of tampering with election equipment, allowing her to be eligible for parole on June 1. The controversial decision follows a months-long pressure campaign from President Trump and his administration to free Peters from state custody.

In April, a state appeals court upheld Peters' 2024 conviction but ruled that she should be re-sentenced, saying that the trial court judge who issued her nearly nine-year sentence improperly factored in her protected speech.

Peters was convicted for her role in facilitating a security breach of Mesa County's voting machines when she was clerk and recorder. The incident occurred six months after the 2020 election, as part of her effort to prove Trump's baseless claims of a rigged election.

Peters' conviction and sentence have stood out because legal efforts to hold Trump and many other allies accountable for attempts to overturn that election have faltered.

Read more: https://www.npr.org/2026/05/15/nx-s1-5690286/tina-peters-polis-commutation-trump

---

REFERENCES (some/most recent)

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143500669
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143516700
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143563209
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143565598
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143572394
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143580977
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143581176
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143587896
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143596138
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143598746
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143599507
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143626724
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143627671
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143631064
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143637222
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143642750

[ALBliberal]

1. DINO

[obamanut2012]

5. He has said he is a MAHA guy, and likes RFKJr

[Ritabert]

2. So much for Polis.

[ancianita]

19. My ex in CO, told me last night that CO folks are getting pissed off at Polis, who seems to have been swinging

right in the last 5 months. Not just over this particular issue. Maybe other CO folks here can explain Democratic voters' negative view of him better than my ex did.

[Ritabert]

22. Thanks for the info.

[popsdenver]

34. He has leaned right for corporations

since the beginning of his first term, this second term was as a lame duck, so he could do anything he wanted and he took a hard right towards corporations.
After all he was raised in a large Corporate Family, and educated in Corporate influenced Business schools. He then had his families money to back him in starting a business...........

He has been talking back and forth with Trump for some time about pardoning her. She tried to undermine the voting system. She allowed access to the voting machines, by a couple of Republican Nerds. Supposedly to check to see if the voting had been tampered with by those machines......what the news never mentions is that they were after the Hard drives/software of those machines used in many states, not just Colorado. You can bet they were exploring the software to see how it could be tampered with, much like EIS? did in the 2004? Election.

Rumor is, that Polis is gonna back our U.S. Senator who is running to replace Polis as Colorado Governor, and in turn, Bennet will recommend Polis to fill out Bennet's term in the U.S. Senate. Bennet couldn't run a pop stand, as he proved in his only claim to fame being Superintendent of the Denver Public Schools, in which he made some major blunders.
We have heard previous little from him, Hickenlooper, and DeGette the entire time they have been in the U.S. House and Senate.
Seeing as Colorado is being targeted BIGLY by the Republicans, trashing on us every chance they get, you would think that those three would have been screaming their heads off from the rooftops.....NOT........they have said nothing this past decade. I saw where DeGette is already running campaign ads, like she has never had to do before......she must be running scared?
Bennet is running ads for Governor, and that is the first we have heard anything from him in forever...... Wonderful that he can spend his time in Colorado Campaigning, and keep his job/income as U.S. Senator..............

[generalbetrayus]

57. Good analysis. Bennet's ads for governor are big on how he has stood up to Orange Julius Caesar, not as much on what

he would do as governor. I hope Phil Weiser gets the nomination, but Bennet has the big corporate bucks behind him. Weiser's ads are big on what he actually would do as governor. Weiser has been an activist state attorney general, and has stood up to OJC much more than Bennet has. Bennet's irritation with OJC is much more recent.

DeGette has a primary challenger for once, a young woman named Melot Kiros. DeGette IS running scared, behind in the polling.

https://www.coloradopolitics.com/2026/03/28/denver-democrat-diana-degette-trails-challenger-melat-kiros-at-assembly-as-both-qualify-for-primary/

[popsdenver]

69. Hopefully

the party is over for DeGette, Polis, Hickenlooper, and Bennet.......... Pun intended.........

Hancock???? The Denver Mayor.......is by far the least qualified mayor we have ever had........and grossly incompetent.....

[underpants]

3. Boo!👎

[Chasstev365]

4. BULL SHIT!

[50 Shades Of Blue]

6. FUCK HIM. FUCK HIM. FUCK HIM.

I don't care if I get reported.

[COL Mustard]

48. Who's gonna report you?

Probably most people agree with you!

We have no standards anymore. The guardrails are down; do whatever you want.

[Wuddles440]

7. When Pedo Don whines and bellows...

everyone eventually submits. The application and enforcement of the "Rule of Law" only applies to matters concerning non-MAGATS. Beyond disgusting!

[brer cat]

8. I guess that sos we can't count on all Democratic governors

not to bend to trump's pressure.

[Cha]

35. Certainly not Polis. I'm furious, too, Cat..

I was born and raised in Denver. Colorado is always in my heart.

Thankfully, we do have Dem Govs we can count on: Gov Newsom, Gov Pritzker, Gov Josh Green, Gov Wes Moore, Gov Healey, Gov Katy Hobbs, Gov Kathy Hochul, Gov Josh Shapiro, Gov Tina Kotek, Gov Bob Fergusson, Gov Andy Beshear, Gov Janet Mils, Gov Ned Lamont, Gov Spanberger, Gov Matt Meyer, Gov Michelle Lujan Grisham, Gov Dan McKee, Gov Josh Stein, Gov Laura Kelly, Gov Tim Walz, Gov Whitmer, Gov Mikie Sherrill, and Gov Tony Evers

Then of course, there's Vermont with a Republican Gov., apparently "moderate".

Hopefully, next time Colorado gets a strong Democratic Gov.

[generalbetrayus]

58. Colorado's current attorney general, Phil Weiser, is up against Bennet in the primary. Phil has gone up against Orange

Julius Caesar multiple times in conjunction with other state attorneys general. He's an actual progressive - Polis is more of a big business libertarian. Not sad to see him go.

[Cha]

60. Interesting, TY! I looked up Phil Weiser,

Back when he was running for Attorney General.

Get to know Phil Weiser, the Democratic candidate for Colorado attorney general

Democrat Phil Weiser won a hard-fought primary against state Rep. Joe Salazar to secure his party’s nomination for Colorado attorney general, spending roughly $1 million to secure the chance to be on the Nov. 6 ballot.

snip****

Weiser shocked a lot of people in Colorado’s political circles by coming out of the gate so strong on fundraising. He raked in about $1 million heading into the June 28 primary contest, far outpacing Joe Salazar’s campaign.

Still, Weiser — lacking in name recognition — only eked out a victory over the state lawmaker. The margin was about 5,000 votes.

That race centered on the two factions of the Democratic party: Weiser represents the more moderate approach to policy, while Salazar aligned himself with the U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders wing. For example, Weiser and Salazar both oppose the death penalty, but Weiser vowed to defend the state’s capital-punishment law, and Salazar said he might not.

https://coloradosun.com/2018/10/11/phil-weiser-bio-colorado-attorney-general/
I hope Phil Weiser wins the Dem Primary

[Miguelito Loveless]

9. Goddamn it!

This is why we lose.

[Ponietz]

30. Bread knives at gun fights

[bluestarone]

10. Will she be back to work as a clerk?

Wouldn't surprise me a bit!! Thank you for NOTHING Governor!@!

[riversedge]

27. I am sure that Trump and his thugs have a good paying job for her!!

[bluestarone]

28. Oh, i'm sure!! She is

a born again NAZI!!!!

[generalbetrayus]

59. I doubt it. She was prosecuted by a Republican prosecutor. She is anathema even to the mainline Republicans

in Colorado, of which there are still a few.

[rurallib]

11. big mistake IMHO

There must be sufficient punishment to deter the next one

[Buddyzbuddy]

12. Another damn state that goes on my list.

It's getting tougher and tougher to traverse this Country.

I genuinely feel bad for Coloradans that were fooled by this Assh*le.

Rule of law my ass!

[Cha]

24. This is Polis' last term and I bet Dems in

Colorado are just as mad as we are, if not madder.

I'm not writing Colorado off.

[Bristlecone]

36. This one is.

I was less than kind in another OP. Some unflattering swears might even have been expressed.….

[Cha]

39. ".. Writing off Colorado.." Why? nt

[Bristlecone]

50. Mad

Not writing off

[Cha]

51. Oh Good.. sorry!

[niyad]

40. This Dem certainly is.

[Cha]

42. "writing of Colorado" because of Polis?

I don't understand? Polis will be gone, and Colorado will get a real Dem Gov. Hopefully!

[niyad]

44. You said "Dems in Colorado are just as mad as we are"

[Cha]

46. Oh sorry... Yes, if not madder. I can

imagien.

Brainwashed by lies..Tina Peters broke very serious election laws. She deserved her verdict.

Not buying what Polis is selling.

[niyad]

53. I scared my poor kitty when I read that. Then I called jared's office

to express my displeasure.

Poppet time!

[Cha]

54. Oh Good! Mahalo, niyad!

Colorado will always be in my heart. ❤️

What's Poppet time!?

[niyad]

61. Time for little dolls and little pins!

[Cha]

62. lol, Whatever works... what a legacy

to go out the door with.

IOW, appeasing PEDO on Tina Peters. Setting her Diseased mouth loose on America

[quakerboy]

70. I dont think hes thinking legacy

I suspect hes looking at what comes after leaving office. Job opportunities via corruption are a thing.

[Buddyzbuddy]

45. Only while he's in office, for now.

[Cha]

47. Good!

[Buddyzbuddy]

49. That would be like blaming the good Democrats of Pennsylvania for Fetterman.

[Cha]

52. Right? That's all on Fetterman.

Like Polis.

[fujiyamasan]

71. lol. Pretty silly reason to "write off colorado" because of one shitty democratic governor

Colorado now has two democratic senators, and has voted blue in every presidential race since 2004.

its not a right wing state by any means. Sometimes bad democrats sneak into office. I have faith democrats in Colorado won’t nominate him for any other political office.

[Buddyzbuddy]

73. I guess none of us should react in anyway when one of our own does something really bad when they're in a position

to make a difference. Hmm, maybe I should write a strongly worded letter. Or do you think that's too harsh. I guess I should check with you first before I react because

Florida, Texas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Missouri and so on all have shitty Governors. Guess what, I don't go to their states. If the Lt. Gov., A.G. any office below a Democratic Gov. does what Polis did, no biggie but a Democratic Governor does what he did, you're damn right that state is going on my list. I don't blame anybody but that Governor for being a traitor to his constituents. Unfortunately, for me, that state is now in the yellow. There have to be consequences. If he calls any high ranking Dem. politician, if he tries to endorse anybody, if he needs a favor for him or anybody else, he needs to be told to pound sand. He needs to do his state a favor and resign.

[Scubamatt]

13. When we "go high" and try to "look forward"

all these thugs learn is that there is no accountability and that they can get away with impunity.

[LuvLoogie]

14. GOPs will like that

[Grins]

15. Really, Governor? We need better Democrats. NM

[Cha]

25. Yes, as a Colorado Gov... he 'shouldn't

smear all Dem Govs or Dems.

Polis has other signs of appeasing the Traitor regime... signaling approval of rfk jr.

[AZ8theist]

16. WHY??!?? WHY THE FUCK WHY???

FUCKING COWARD.

[tonekat]

17. Does he really think that if the tables were turned

He, or any Dem would get a sliver of a fraction of a break from the "cruelty is the point" crowd??

Fetterman Syndrome - avoid at all costs.

[RobertDevereaux]

18. GOOD GOD, NO!!!!!!!!!!

[blue-wave]

20. Well, isn't this perfect timing!

Just in time for the midterms! How long before she's appointed to head the state's election operation?

[kimbutgar]

21. I will never respect him for being a DINO

F Jared Polis!

[Indyfan53]

23. He can forget running in '28

Or for any officer after this.

[niyad]

41. He is term-limited as governor.

[DavidDvorkin]

66. This is his second term, and he's term limited

At one time, he seemed like a good bet for even higher office, but no longer.

[Fil1957]

26. This is the kind of crap that's been killing the Democratic party brand for years. No backbone, rolling over and

playing dead, as if that's going to attract voters. It doesn't. It demoralizes the base and invites disrespect from others. It sends the message that the party is weak. And most Americans despise weakness.

And if Polis thinks he or the party will get any points or favors from Trump or the Republicans for this, he is living in a world of fantasy. In fact, his action will only invite future election tampering by giving Peters a slap on the wrist, instead of allowing her to serve out her sentence, thus incentivizing this type of criminal act.

As Churchill said regarding Chamberlain's appeasement to Hitler: "You were given the choice between war and dishonor. You chose dishonor, and you will have war."

Our party leaders just don't understand the gravity of this historical moment. They're still living in 1985. This is depressing and demoralizing.

[SusieCreamcheese]

29. She was never serious

She was never serious about her position as County Clerk. She was there for just ONE reason: To disrupt the election process to advantage Trump's chances. She is a deeply flawed human being and a disgrace to the professional position that she corrupted. Since her sentencing, Trump has done as much damage to Colorado as possible, i.e., the dismantling of the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, relocating the US Space Command to Alabama, and cutting off funds to needy Colorado families. Attorney General Phil Weiser has sued to stop the Space Command relocation. He is currently looking to run for Colorado's next governor.

[NBachers]

32. Great! Just in time for her to go out & fuck up another crucial election. Thanks a lot, you maggot-covered piece of shit

[Gore1FL]

33. Going to the middle, eh?

That always works....

[Javaman]

37. He's not eligible for a third term

He shows his true colors.

Fuck this prick

[Sneederbunk]

55. But he is eligible for whatever TSF is paying him.

[PatrickforB]

38. Polis is a gutless limp noodle. He always has been, pretty much. He had the chance to raise a middle finger

to fucking Trump and give him a nice big Colorado Fuck You! but instead he caved.

I was born in Colorado and have lived here all my life, and this decision by our governor, who SHOULD be looking out for us, instead betrays the people of the state I love.

Doesn't say much for his character.

[niyad]

43. For those who might want to express their views:

office of the governor:
303-866-2471

[BigmanPigman]

56. I just posted this under the "CO forum"

I hope I didn't dupe it. If I did I'll delete it. I was just watching a podcast and saw it there 15 minutes ago. I included the podcast video in my post.

I am super pissed off!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[fujiyamasan]

63. No surprise

Polis has praised Trump on multiple occasions. Both on appointing RFK Jr. (WTF?) and on Venezuela. This goes well beyond “moderate politics”. He’s actively praising Trump’s picks and policies.

Hopefully this ends any future aspirations within democratic politics. He’d be another Fetterman if he got elected to the senate. I think he was entertaining a presidential run. lol, that’s definitely dead in the water, but I think the state dems won’t nominate him for the senate either. This is likely the last straw.

[dlk]

64. Killing democracy a step at a time...

n/t

[City Lights]

65. Extremely disappointing!

Makes me sick to see his election-denying criminal cohorts get off easy.

[Karasu]

67. Fucking idiotic. This woman is completely unapologetic and has stated that she would gladly do it all over again.

Last edited Sat May 16, 2026, 08:42 PM - Edit history (1)

[bluestarone]

68. I just hope Colorado Democrats treat him like he DESERVES to be treated!!

I realize he's done this year, but Dam let him know how much of an ASSHOLE he is!!

[fujiyamasan]

72. I don't think he's going anywhere now

Pretty much a lame duck. Cash out for something that pays better. Lobbyist. Private equity. There’s enough out there. Run for president as the “independent l” democrat. End up dead last. Become a Fox News “Democrat” and endlessly bash the party, aka Fetterman.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

74. MaddowBlog-Colorado's Polis faces bipartisan pushback after commuting Tina Peters' sentence

The governor had plenty of time to come up with a defense for his decision. The fact that he pitched transparent nonsense points to an awkward conclusion.

Colorado’s Jared Polis had plenty of time to come up with a coherent defense for his Tina Peters decision.

The fact that he pitched transparent nonsense suggests that he really did succumb to Trump’s extortion efforts, but he’s reluctant to say so.
www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2026-05-18T19:41:34.610Z

https://www.ms.now/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/colorado-jared-polis-tina-peters-backlash

At the outset, for example, Polis, who’s nearing the end of his second and final term, said Peters “did not commit any crimes regarding the 2020 elections.” When I heard this, I initially thought he simply misspoke, but he proceeded to repeat the claim several additional times in the same interview.

This was quite odd. The whole point of Peters’ crimes was that she was trying to substantiate false and conspiratorial claims about the 2020 election. For the governor to repeatedly tell a national television audience that her crimes were entirely unrelated to the 2020 race was bizarre.

But then he went further, telling Collins:

[Peters] has very strange beliefs. She’ll probably continue to have them. We don’t punish people in this country for having strange beliefs. … And that’s what happened here because, of her speech and what she believes, which I vehemently disagree with, and I share the passion and the emotions that so many people feel, who are outraged by the words she says. But the place to resolve those differences is by debate, by discourse, by arguing with her, with by disputing her. Not for keeping her behind bars, simply because of what she believes or says.

I don’t understand what it is that the governor doesn’t understand. No one has ever suggested that Peters should be imprisoned because of her very strange beliefs. Rather, many in both parties have argued that Peters should be held accountable because of all the felonies she committed.

This isn’t complicated. Conspiracy theorists are free to believe what they wish. It’s a free country. But when officials start using their offices to violate the public trust, literally breaking laws to advance their conspiracy theories, that’s qualitatively different....

Peters had her day in court and presented a defense. She also showed no remorse for all the felonies she committed. Her conviction, secured by a Republican prosecutor, was a no-brainer.

Polis had plenty of time to come up with a defense for his decision. The fact that he pitched transparent nonsense suggests that he really did succumb to Donald Trump’s extortion efforts, though the governor was reluctant to say so.