Tina Peters, who served nearly two years in prison for her efforts to expose alleged election interference in the 2020 U.S. presidential vote, was officially released from Colorado correctional facilities on Monday morning.
Peters, a former Mesa County Clerk, was sentenced to nine years in prison following her 2024 conviction related to claims of irregularities in the 2020 election process. She spent approximately 19 months incarcerated before Governor Jared Polis granted clemency, making her eligible for parole.
According to court records, the commutation followed an April ruling by the Colorado Court of Appeals that found the original sentence improperly factored in Peters’ protected speech about election fraud. Governor Polis stated his decision was based on concerns that her punishment was disproportionately severe for a first-time offender convicted of nonviolent offenses.
During an interview with Steve Bannon on his “War Room” show, Peters thanked supporters for their role in securing her release and warned that Democrats would continue to “cheat” in future elections. She also expressed concerns about her safety after being among nine individuals granted clemency by the governor.
Colorado Democratic officials criticized the commutation as undermining accountability for election interference. The governor defended his decision, noting that while Peters committed “serious crimes,” the sentence should not have been calculated to penalize her political speech.