Tina Peters’ first reaction after Gov. Jared Polis commutes Colorado election denier’s sentence: ‘I made a mistake’

In her first public statement since her sentence was reduced, Peters acknowledged wrongdoing and admitted she “misled the secretary of state” five years ago by allowing unauthorized use of county voting equipment.

Read more: Who is Tina Peters? What did she do?

Peters also denounced threats and political violence related to her case, including online calls from supporters to “storm” the prison where she is being held. “I condemn all bullying, threats and violence against voters, county clerks, election workers and other public officials,” she added.

She further revealed her plans after her release from prison. “After I am released from prison, I plan to do my best to support election integrity through legal means and advance the cause of prison reform based on my own personal experience to help ensure that the detention system is more fair and equitable for people of all ages,” Peters wrote.

Peters said in her statement that her experience in prison changed her perspective and that she now plans to focus on prison reform and election-related activism.

“My experience has given me a perspective that I plan to share with others to improve Colorado’s correctional system,” she wrote. She also thanked Polis for giving her “a second chance and early release.”

Read more: ‘The next Tina Peters’: After Jorge Santos, MAGA base seeks release of former county clerk

Prosecutors said Peters allowed an individual linked to election conspiracy theories to access secure voting equipment during a 2021 software update. Images and data from the county’s voting system were later leaked online and circulated among election fraud activists, The Guardian reported.

Peters has long claimed she was trying to preserve evidence of alleged election irregularities. Despite repeated findings by courts, election officials and independent audits, there is no evidence of widespread fraud that affected the 2020 election results.

As part of an ongoing campaign to spread misleading information about the 2020 election, trump card Polis frequently requested pardon for Peters. He granted Peters a federal pardon earlier this year, but it had no impact on her case because she was convicted of state crimes.

In 2024, a jury convicted Peters of three counts: first-degree official misconduct, conspiracy to commit a criminal offence, breach of duty and failure to comply with Secretary of State regulations. She was sentenced to nine years in prison.

After Trump repeatedly threatened to withhold funding from Colorado, Polis hinted in March that he was considering granting Peters some mercy before approving his commute on Friday.