Election denier Tina Peters set for release after Colorado governor commutes sentence

BREAKING NEWSMay. 15, 2026, 9:37 PM UTCElectionsElectionsElection denier Tina Peters set for release after Colorado governor commutes sentenceDemocratic Gov. Jared Polis had previously called Peters’ 9-year prison sentence “harsh.” President Trump has repeatedly demanded she be released.Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters during her trial in Grand Junction, Colo., in 2023.Scott Crabtree / AP fileShareAdd NBC News to GoogleBy Dareh GregorianColorado Gov. Jared Polis announced Friday that he’s commuting the prison sentence of Tina Peters, a former county clerk and 2020 election denier who was sentenced to nine years behind bars for tampering with election equipment.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Polis, a Democrat, wrote in an executive order that Peters “is granted parole effective June 1.” Her attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.The move comes after a state appeals court found last month that Peters’ lengthy sentence was improper and directed she be resentenced.Peters’ cause had been repeatedly championed by President Donald Trump, who has posted “Free Tina Peters” numerous times on his social media site and blasted Polis as a “sleazebag” who should “rot in hell” for not using his power as governor to free the former Mesa County clerk.The term-limited Polis said in January he thought Peters’ sentence was “harsh” but that he wouldn’t let his clemency decisions be driven by presidential directives.“You look at every case on clemency on the merits,” he told CBS News at the time.Peters was convicted of four felony and three misdemeanor charges in August 2024 for using another person’s security badge to allow someone associated with MyPillow founder Mike Lindell, a prominent election denier, access to county election equipment involving Dominion Voting Systems.The county’s machines had to be replaced afterwards when data, incl...