The Colorado Department of Corrections disciplinary board ruled March 12 that Tina Peters acted in self-defense during a January prison altercation. A 29-year-old inmate attacked and cornered her. The board found Peters not guilty.
Two days earlier, every Democrat in the Colorado legislature signed a letter to Governor Polis citing that same incident as evidence against granting Peters clemency. The state’s own prison board says she was the victim.
The letter demands Peters show remorse before any sentence reduction. It says she “has made no efforts” toward accountability. It warns that clemency would create “a figurehead to rally around” for election conspiracy theorists.
It also admits Peters would likely be released “around late 2027 or early 2028” with good behavior. She gets out either way.
The remorse demand has no statutory basis. Colorado Revised Statutes § 16-17-102 lists the factors a governor considers: conduct in prison, former good character, and reformation. The word remorse does not appear. What the letter actually requires is that Peters recant her position on election systems — the same position three Court of Appeals judges questioned on January 14 as a potential First Amendment violation in her sentencing.
None of the 66 signers mentioned who Polis has already released.
In December 2019, Polis commuted the sentence of William Hoover, convicted on 44 counts of theft, racketeering, and securities fraud. Hoover defrauded investors of more than $15 million. He received 100 years — one of the longest white collar sentences in state history. Polis let him out after 15 years, citing “extreme remorse.”
Four of Hoover’s victims lost a combined $320,000. They received $12 in restitution. Polis himself invested $173,500 in one of Hoover’s schemes and never got a dollar back.
In that same order, Polis pardoned a woman convicted of criminal impersonation — the same charge category as one of Peters’ felonies.
Hoover stole $15 million and went home. Peters copied a hard drive and got nine years. The 66 Democrats did not explain why remorse works for a man who defrauded investors but not for a county clerk who preserved election records.
Polis told lawmakers he will wait for the Court of Appeals before acting. The clemency deadline is April 3.
Support Independent Local Journalism — High Country Advocate was created as a real alternative to regional media that too often silences dissenting voices while taking sides in the political struggle. Producing in-depth, unflinching reporting like this series and others is expensive: servers, editing, research time, and legal review all add up quickly. If these articles have informed you or given you new perspective, please consider supporting HCA with a paid subscription — every subscriber helps keep this reporting strong and independent. 