Colorado Officials Press Polis to Deny Federal Transfer of Tina Peters

Overview

• Attorney General Phil Weiser and Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubinstein urged Gov. Jared Polis to reject the request, warning it could bypass Colorado’s judicial process or enable an unauthorized release.
• The Colorado County Clerks Association sent a bipartisan letter opposing the move, and Secretary of State Jena Griswold separately asked Polis to deny it, citing safety risks for election workers and the spread of false election claims.
• Peters is serving a nine-year sentence for felonies tied to granting unauthorized access to Mesa County voting systems in 2021.
• A Department of Corrections spokesperson said the request is under review and described a multi-step transfer process that cannot be initiated by an outside entity, while the governor’s office deferred to the DOC.
• President Trump has called for Peters’ release, a Justice Department pardon official said the federal government must work with Colorado to secure it, and Peters’ attorneys have cited health concerns, investigative needs, and a separate federal habeas bid for bond pending appeal.