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Colorado Democrats formally censured Gov. Jared Polis on Wednesday after he commuted the prison sentence of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, a prominent election denier convicted in a voting system violation case.
The Colorado Democratic Party State Central Committee voted Wednesday to censure Polis, a fellow Democrat, after he issued a controversial commutation for Peters, who was convicted in connection with a 2021 voting equipment violation case.
“Reducing his sentence now, under pressure from Donald Trump, is not justice,” the party said in a statement. “It sends a message to future bad actors that gerrymandering has consequences, unless you’re friends with the president.”
“It is a dangerous and disappointing precedent,” the statement added.
COLORADO GOVERNOR COMMUTES TINA PETERS SENTENCE AS TRUMP RELEASES ‘FREE TINA!’
Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Tina Peters speaks at a rally on the west steps of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver, Colorado, on April 5, 2022. (Hyoung Chang/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images)
The party accused Polis of having “materially damaged” the credibility of the state party and banned him from participating in official Democratic Party-sponsored events in the future.
He also said the pardon decision “does not reflect the values, institutional positions or democratic commitments of the Colorado Democratic Party.”
When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Polis defended the governor’s decision in a statement to Fox News Digital.
TRUMP CONTINUES PUSHING FOR THE RELEASE OF TINA PETERS AS COLORADO GOVERNOR WEIGHES FOR PARdon
Colorado Governor Jared Polis speaks to members of the media in the spin room after the first vice presidential debate at the CBS Broadcast Center in New York on October 1, 2024. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“The Governor made this decision based on the facts of the case and what he believed was right,” the spokesperson said. “Sometimes what is right is not what everyone likes. Democracy is stronger when disagreement is met with debate and dialogue, not with censorship.”
The reprimand came after Polis announced clemency for 44 people last Friday, including 35 pardons and nine commutations.
Peters was among those who obtained a commutation, which reduced her prison sentence and made her eligible for parole starting June 1, 2026.
APPEALS JUDGE APPEARS SKEPTIC OF SENTENCE FOR COLORADO PRO-TRUMP SECRETARY TINA PETERS
Lawyers for former Colorado election official Tina Peters filed a motion asking for her release from prison and later for the appeals court to recognize a pardon granted by President Donald Trump. The motion concluded that Trump’s pardon applies to Peters’ state convictions, a claim disputed by Colorado officials as the court considers its jurisdiction. (Marc Piscotty/Getty Images)
Peters became a nationally known figure among 2020 election skeptics following the controversy over the Mesa County voting equipment breach and subsequent criminal prosecution.
President Donald Trump quickly weighed in on the commutation, posting on Truth Social: “FREE TINA!”
Under the executive order signed Friday, Peters’ sentence was reduced from eight years and three months to four years and four and a half months.
The order also states that the pardon action “shall not in any way affect the underlying criminal conviction.”
Peters was convicted in 2024 of three counts of attempting to influence a public servant, along with conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation, official misconduct, breach of duty, and failure to comply with the requirements of the Secretary of State.
In a statement announcing the clemencies, Polis said that “the clemency power is a serious responsibility, and not one I take lightly.”
“This power has the ability to change lives – to help give a second chance to someone who has made serious mistakes – and it comes with great consideration and sometimes even controversy,” he added.
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The move was immediately condemned by Democrats, including Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, who accused Polis of legitimizing “the election denial movement.”
Fox News Digital’s Jasmine Baehr contributed to this report.