Colorado Gov. Jared Polis said Friday that he is considering granting clemency to former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, who is currently serving a lengthy prison sentence for her role in an election security breach.
In an interview with CBS Colorado, Polis acknowledged that Peters’ nine-year sentence has raised questions, particularly given her age and health. Peters, 73, is a cancer survivor and has been incarcerated for two years of the sentence.
“She got a sentence that was harsh. It was a nine-year sentence,” Polis said. He explained that his administration regularly reviews sentences, especially for elderly inmates. “When you have people that are elderly, and we’re looking at this across a number of people – people in their 70s and their 80s in our system – how much of a threat to society are they?” Polis said. He added that the state weighs whether such individuals should be allowed to spend their remaining years at home rather than behind bars.
The governor’s comments came after public pressure from President Donald Trump, who sharply criticized Polis for keeping Peters imprisoned. Trump has repeatedly called for her release and has framed her prosecution as unjust.
In a New Year’s Eve post on Truth Social, Trump condemned the sentence and the governor’s refusal to intervene. “God Bless Tina Peters, who is now, for two years out of nine, sitting in a Colorado Maximum Security Prison, at the age of 73, and sick, for the ‘crime’ of trying to stop the massive voter fraud that goes on in her State,” Trump wrote. He claimed Colorado residents are “leaving in record numbers” and portrayed Peters as a whistleblower rather than a criminal.
Trump’s post went further, launching a personal attack on Polis. He referred to the governor as “the Scumbag Governor,” saying he wished him “only the worst” and ending the message with a blunt demand: “FREE TINA PETTERS!”
The public rebuke added fuel to an already tense relationship between Trump and Polis. Prior to Trump’s comments on Peters, the Trump administration had denied Colorado emergency funding, a move that further escalated the feud between the White House and the Democratic governor.
Peters’ case has drawn national attention, particularly among conservatives who argue that her sentence was excessive and politically motivated. Supporters have emphasized her age, health, and the length of the punishment, calling it disproportionate to the offense. Critics, however, maintain that election security breaches are serious matters that warrant strict consequences.
Polis did not commit to granting clemency but said the issue is under review as part of broader considerations about aging inmates and public safety. His remarks suggest the possibility of a reduced sentence or release, though no timeline or decision has been announced.
The situation places Polis at the center of a politically charged debate involving election integrity, criminal justice, and executive power. For Trump and his allies, Peters has become a symbol of what they view as government overreach. For Polis, the decision carries both legal and political implications as scrutiny intensifies from both sides.
Whether clemency is ultimately granted or denied, the case is likely to remain a flashpoint, reflecting the deep divisions over election issues and the role of governors in revisiting high-profile convictions.