President Donald Trump wants former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters free from prison, and Gov. Jared Polis holds the power to do so. But don’t expect the term-limited governor to start making deals based on the authority of his elected office just because it seems the guardrails are off.
“In a past version of America, people have gone to jail for that. Isn’t that something people should go to jail for, Ryan?” Polis told Colorado Matters Senior Host Ryan Warner about the possibility of trading a Peters pardon for more favorable treatment from the federal government. “If that happens, I mean, that’s the America we need to get back to.”
Polis joined Warner at Colorado Mesa University’s Asteria Theatre for an interview in front of hundreds of Western Slope residents. He discussed federal overreach, Colorado’s response and why he wouldn’t consider pardoning Peters, who was convicted and sentenced last year to nine years’ incarceration for her role in permitting unauthorized access to county voting equipment.
“We use the power of the pardon and commutations very seriously. Would we look at this on humanitarian grounds if she’s old or sick and so she doesn’t die in prison? I do that. I do pardons for that reason, and I would treat her the same way,” Polis said.
In addition to calls from President Trump on social media, hundreds of messages have flooded the governor’s office asking for Peters to be released. Polis said his office would handle a request from Peters no differently than any other pardon request.
“I’ve pardoned people that are in their 70s and ill, and maybe they committed a horrible crime 20 or 30 years ago, but they’re not going to commit again, and they should have the dignity to die in their home. I’m not saying that won't happen (with Peters), but it certainly won’t happen as part of an exchange or trade that would be wrong, and it’ll be contrary to justice itself,” Polis said.
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