{"id":1282,"date":"2026-05-21T13:04:29","date_gmt":"2026-05-21T13:04:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/denvermovingchronicle.com\/?p=1282"},"modified":"2026-05-21T13:04:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-21T13:04:29","slug":"colorado-democrats-seek-to-censure-gov-polis-over-tina-peters-prison-sentence-cut-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/denvermovingchronicle.com\/?p=1282","title":{"rendered":"Colorado Democrats seek to censure Gov. Polis over Tina Peters prison sentence cut"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

This story was produced as part of the Colorado Capitol News Alliance. It first appeared at\u00a0<\/em>cpr.org<\/em>.<\/em><\/p>\n

DENVER<\/strong> | In an unprecedented rebuke, a number of current Democratic state officials, lawmakers, party organizers, activists, and a Democratic National Committee member want the state party to temporarily suspend Democratic Gov. Jared Polis from attending and speaking at state Democratic party events after he reduced the prison sentence of Trump ally Tina Peters.<\/p>\n

They filed a complaint on Monday asking the party to formally censure and condemn the governor for \u201cconduct detrimental to the interests of the Colorado Democratic Party.\u201d<\/p>\n

The move follows Polis\u2019 decision to reduce the sentence of the former Mesa County Clerk, who was convicted and sentenced to nearly 9 years in prison for her efforts to tamper with county voting machines to prove 2020 election rigging. Per the governor\u2019s order, she is scheduled to be released on parole on June 1.<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Signers include state Reps. Brianna Titone and Elizabeth Velasco, Steven Woodrow and state Sens. Lisa Cutter and Chris Kolker, along with a number of candidates for office, as well as former lawmakers, county leaders and organizers.<\/p>\n

Titone called Polis\u2019 decision a strategic move to commute the sentence two days after the legislative session was over.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause he knew every Democrat in the General Assembly and clerk was against it. He should not be allowed to do this without any accountability under a technicality that we are in adjournment,\u201d Titone said in a text message.<\/p>\n

Polis\u2019 controversial decision came after a months-long pressure campaign from President Trump and his administration to free Peters from state custody.<\/p>\n

Polis, who is term-limited, said outside pressure had nothing to do with his decision, and has long said Peters\u2019 sentence was too harsh. In April, a state appeals court upheld Peters\u2019 2024 conviction but ruled that she should be re-sentenced, saying that the trial court judge who issued her sentence improperly factored in her protected speech.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s about doing what\u2019s right. Even though, of course, I disagree with her speech,\u201d said Polis in an interview with CPR from the Governor\u2019s office on May 15, the day he commuted her sentence.<\/p>\n

The commutation led to immediate condemnation from officials across Colorado. The complaint does not challenge the governor\u2019s constitutional authority to grant clemency but alleges it was detrimental to the interests, credibility, and stated democratic mission of the Colorado Democratic Party.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are no sacred cows in local, state, or federal politics. Individuals are elected by the People to do what\u2019s right, and to uphold the Constitution,\u201d said former Democratic Rep. Joe Salazar, who signed onto the complaint.<\/p>\n

Salazar is joined on the letter of complaint by nearly 200 former and current Democratic officials, and organizers from around Colorado, as well as Democratic and unaffiliated voters.<\/p>\n

He said granting clemency to a convicted felon and notorious election denier, Tina Peters, was an affront to voters and the Constitution.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was the last straw for Colorado Democrats. If only to reaffirm the values of our Constitution and to wipe this stain of Polis\u2019 decision off our state, we demand that he be censured by his own Party,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

In addition to the censure, the letter also asks that Polis be temporarily suspended from speaking at officially recognized state Democratic Party events or attending as an honored guest. It asks the state party to publicly reaffirm its commitment to election integrity, democratic institutions and clarify that the governor\u2019s clemency decision doesn\u2019t reflect the position of the state Democratic Party.<\/p>\n

CPR News reached out to the governor\u2019s office for a response to the complaint. Spokesman Eric Maruyama said the Governor appreciates that many in his party disagree with him and are disappointed, but said he ultimately made the decision he felt was right, not popular, and agreed with an Appellate Court\u2019s finding that the State of Colorado violated her 1st Amendment Rights, and wanted an expeditious remedy to that violation rather than likely waiting years for lengthy court appeals and delays.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the great things about the Democratic Party is that we are a big tent, and there is space to debate and disagree. No clemency decision should be granted only on whether it will be popular. The Governor is often attacked on clemency decisions but is a deep believer in mercy. No matter what, the Governor will continue to fight to make life better for every Coloradan,\u201d said Maruyama in a written statement.<\/p>\n

The Colorado Democratic Party said it\u2019s still reviewing the complaint and will have further information soon.<\/p>\n

This story was made available via the Colorado News Collaborative. Learn more at https:\/\/www.google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/colabnews.co&source=gmail-imap&ust=1779912201000000&usg=AOvVaw3o_IQKKpruU7104RIJVa5S<\/em>\n<\/p>\n

Read more THURSDAY NEWS IN A RUSH: Top headlines in today\u2019s NewsMinute video<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Read more Toon in Thursday<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Read more A de-extinction company has hatched live chicks from an artificial eggshell<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This story was produced as part of the Colorado Capitol News Alliance. It first appeared at\u00a0cpr.org. DENVER | In an unprecedented rebuke, a number of current Democratic state officials, lawmakers, party organizers, activists, and a Democratic National Committee member want the state party to temporarily suspend Democratic Gov. Jared Polis from attending and speaking at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1240,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[339,258,262],"tags":[1786,1787,1788,45,1789,1306,1790,1791,496],"class_list":["post-1282","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-colorado-legislature","category-colorado-news","category-state-and-region","tag-brianna-titone","tag-chris-kolker","tag-colorado-democratic-party","tag-donald-trump","tag-elizabeth-velasco","tag-jared-polis","tag-joe-salazar","tag-lisa-cutter","tag-tina-peters"],"yoast_head":"\nColorado Democrats seek to censure Gov. 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