Granting Tina Peters Clemency Is a Big Mistake
The release of the local election official convicted of seven crimes is likely to encourage attacks on election integrity.
TL;DR
- Tina Peters, a former Mesa County, Colorado clerk, was convicted of felonies for interfering with election data and allowing an activist access after becoming convinced of fraud claims.
- Governor Jared Polis commuted Peters's sentence, setting her release date and drawing criticism for undermining justice and encouraging election denial.
- Peters was a prominent figure among election deniers, and her conviction was seen as a rare consequence for those involved in post-2020 election denial.
- The article criticizes Polis's reasoning, stating that while believing in election flaws is not a crime, acting on those beliefs in a way that violates law is.
- The decision is seen as emboldening election deniers and potentially leading to more attacks on election integrity, referencing similar patterns with individuals involved in the January 6th riot.
- The article draws parallels between Trump's alleged pressure on Polis for clemency and his past actions, including the Ukraine extortion scandal, and his continued efforts to subvert elections.