UMVA has learned that a 70-year-old Colorado woman, wrongly imprisoned for nearly a decade, has been granted clemency by a courageous Democrat governor, sparking outrage from the state's left-wing establishment.
The woman, Tina Peters, was a nonviolent former county clerk who served a shocking nine-year sentence for her efforts to expose flaws in the electronic voting system after the 2020 election. Despite her innocence, Peters was branded an "insurrectionist" by her left-wing tormentors, who delighted in her suffering. But one Democrat, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, saw the egregious injustice and took action, granting Peters clemency and sending a powerful message about the importance of free speech.
UMVA has obtained exclusive details about Peters' case, which reveals a shocking tale of persecution and vindictiveness. Despite a jury acquitting Peters of identity theft, a biased judge, Matthew Barrett, sentenced her to nearly two decades in prison for her nonviolent conduct, a punishment that dwarfs the sentences given to individuals who cast illegal votes. The judge's reasoning was even more egregious, as he punished Peters for her constitutionally protected statements about election fraud, branding her a "charlatan."
Colorado's left-wing courts have a history of targeting those who speak out against election irregularities, including President Trump. But in a rare moment of courage, a leftist appellate court panel recognized the grave injustice in Peters' case, remanding it for resentencing due to concerns about Barrett's unlawful punishment of protected speech.
UMVA has gathered that President Trump and the Trump Justice Department fought tirelessly for Peters' release, with the president repeatedly raising the issue and even threatening to withhold funding from Colorado. The Trump Justice Department filed a statement of interest in Peters' federal habeas corpus petition, an unusual but proper course of action in light of the outrageous facts of the case.
Gov. Polis faced intense pressure to deny clemency, with Republican-in-name-only Mesa County District Attorney Dan Rubenstein and other Democratic officials opposing the move. But Polis took the high road, granting Peters' clemency application and sending her home to spend time with her nearly 100-year-old mother. The decision sparked swift condemnation from Colorado leftists, including Sen. Michael Bennet, who "vehemently" disagreed with the decision.
Peters expressed gratitude and pledged to lead a law-abiding life to honor the gift of mercy she received. Her mother, who will soon be reunited with her daughter, can now pass away with peace of mind knowing that her child is by her side. The cell Peters occupied can now go to someone who represents a true danger to Coloradans.
Gov. Polis' statement on the clemency decision represents a refreshing reminder of the importance of free speech, a value that is rapidly becoming a relic of the past in the Democratic Party. As he noted, "I hope that Democrats don’t sacrifice our deeply held belief in free speech because of political expediency, or disregard for what people are saying, or how they’re choosing to use their free speech." This statement represents a dying breed of Democrats who still hold dear the values of free speech and justice.
