Colorado’s Democratic governor is signaling his openness to granting clemency to a former county clerk who was convicted in a scheme attempting to find proof of fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Gov.
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Here's what the experts have to sayThe sea is higher than we thought and millions more are at risk, study findsBaby is born after the rarest of pregnancies, defying all oddsColorectal cancer is rising in younger adults. Here's who is most at risk and symptoms to watch forDueling documentaries illuminate the promise and perils of artificial intelligenceA glossary to help cut through seed-packet jargon and confidently plant indoorsLo que la respuesta de China a la guerra de Irán dice sobre su política exteriorTina Peters, former Mesa County, Colo., clerk, listens during her trial, March 3, 2023, in Grand Junction, Colo. Gov. Jared Polis, D-Colo., speaks at an event at the National Governors Association Winter Meeting, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Washington. Tina Peters, former Mesa County, Colo., clerk, listens during her trial, March 3, 2023, in Grand Junction, Colo. Tina Peters, former Mesa County, Colo., clerk, listens during her trial, March 3, 2023, in Grand Junction, Colo. Gov. Jared Polis, D-Colo., speaks at an event at the National Governors Association Winter Meeting, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Washington. Gov. Jared Polis, D-Colo., speaks at an event at the National Governors Association Winter Meeting, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, in Washington. from President Donald Trump, is signaling his openness to granting clemency to a former county clerk who was convicted in a scheme that attempted to find proof of fraud in the A social post by Gov. Jared Polis brought swift rebuke Wednesday from the state’s attorney general, secretary of state and the association representing local election officials, who said such an action by the governor would send the wrong message to anyone seeking to interfere with elections ahead of this year’s midterms. In his post on Tuesday, the governor compared the case of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, who is serving a nine-year prison sentence, to that of a former state lawmaker who was recently sentenced to probation and community service after being convicted of one of the same crimes. Polis was echoing a concern he raised in January that the sentence for Peters, who didn’t have a criminal history, was “harsh.” “Justice in Colorado and America needs to be applied evenly, you never know when you might need to depend on the rule of law. This is the context I am using as I consider cases like this that have sentencing disparities,” Polis wrote on the social platform X.Peters’ lawyers welcomed the governor’s comments and hoped they would lead to her sentence being reduced to the nearly 17 months she has already served. They want her to be released from prison while they continue to try to get her convictions overturned inHe said he could not discuss whether he had any conversations with the governor or his office about clemency because he said the process is confidential.Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat who is running for state attorney general, said Polis’ comments were “shocking and worrisome” and that he was wrong to make a comparison between the case of Peters and former state Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis. Lewis and Peters were each convicted of attempting to influence a public servant, but also convicted of additional, different crimes. Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser, whose office helped prosecute Peters, said Peters has not demonstrated any remorse for her actions. “Clemency should be based on remorse, rehabilitation, and extenuating circumstances — not on political influence, favor, or retribution,” Weiser, a Democrat who is running to succeed the term-limited Polis, said in an emailed statement. U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, who is hoping to replace Polis as governor, also said Peters shouldn’t be pardoned or have her sentence commuted. “Donald Trump may be seeking revenge on Colorado, but surrendering to his political pressure will not make our state stronger or safer,” the Democrat said.Matt Crane, executive director of the Colorado County Clerks Association, said there are few similarities between Peters’ and Lewis’ cases. “It seems he’s tying himself in knots trying to find a way to commute her sentence,” he said of the governor. He also said he worried that an early release would send the wrong message before this year’s midterm elections. “The signal is it’s OK to work to undermine our elections because, whether it’s President Trump or Jared Polis, you’ll get a get-out-of-jail free card,” Crane said. In response, a Polis spokesperson, Shelby Wieman, said the governor has been skeptical of Peters’ sentence compared with the one given to the former state lawmaker.toward Trump. As Trump entered office, Polis praised the idea of the Department of Government Efficiency, then run by billionaire Elon Musk, and the nomination of vaccine critic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to run the Department of Health and Human Services.Peters and Lewis were both convicted of attempting to influence a public servant, a crime that involves using deception or a threat to try to get a public official to act in a certain way. Lewis was convicted of one count of that and three counts of forgery. Prosecutors said she forged letters of support in the middle of a legislative ethics investigation over whether she had mistreated her staff. Her attorney, Craig Truman, declined to comment on her case.for sneaking in an outside computer expert to copy images of her county’s election computer system before and after state officials updated it in 2021. A photo and video of confidential voting system passwords were later posted on social media and a conservative website. She said she had a duty to preserve the information as clerk. Peters was found guilty of three counts of attempting to influence a public servant and one count each of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, first-degree official misconduct, violation of duty and failure to comply with the requirements of the secretary of state. Peters’ lawyers said the judge violated her First Amendment rights by punishing her with a stiff sentence for making allegations about election fraud. The judge called her a “charlatan” and said she posed a danger to the community for spreading lies about voting and undermining the democratic process.Texas GOP Senate race heads to runoff. Democrats too early to call
Donald Trump Colorado Jared Polis 2026 Elections General News CO State Wire Michael Bennet U.S. News Elon Musk Government And Politics Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Law And Order John Case Pardons And Commutations Phil Weiser Social Media Matt Crane Legal Proceedings Sonya Jaquez Lewis Elections Indictments Craig Truman Colorado State Government U.S. Democratic Party Washington News Politics U.S. News Washington News
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