Nine-year sentence questioned: Peters’ attorneys cite contrast with Lewis case

By Jen Schumann | Rocky Mountain Voice

Tina Peters’ attorneys said Wednesday they appreciate Gov. Jared Polis taking a look at her clemency request, pointing to what they believe is a sentencing disparity.

Peters’ attorneys shared the statement with RMV after Polis posted about the case of former state Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis while talking about clemency.

They said that contrast between Lewis’ and Peters’ case is central to their clemency request.

“Tina Peters is grateful to Governor Polis for considering her request for clemency,” the statement said.

The defense team also echoed a comment Polis made in a recent social media post about fairness in the justice system.

“As the governor said, Justice in Colorado and America needs to be applied evenly, you never know when you might need to depend on the rule of law,” the statement said.

The attorneys pointed to the Lewis case as an example of what they believe is a sentencing disparity.

“While Tina suffers in prison, another public official convicted of the same offense pays a fine and performs 150 hours of public service—less than one month of work,” the statement said.

A Denver jury found Lewis guilty of three forgery counts and one count of attempting to influence a public servant. The charges stemmed from letters submitted to lawmakers reviewing an ethics complaint.

Peters’ case produced a different outcome. The court entered four felony convictions against Peters, including three under the same statute—attempting to influence a public servant.

The difference appears in how the sentence was structured. The judge ordered several of the felony counts to run consecutively rather than at the same time—a structure that resulted in nearly nine years in prison followed by mandatory parole.

The statement from Peters’ legal team also criticized several state officials who have publicly opposed clemency.

“Tina’s political enemies—Secretary of State Jena Griswold, Attorney General Phil Weiser, and Dominion Voting Systems shill Matt Crane—today released statements demanding that Governor Polis show no mercy,” the statement said.

Both Weiser and Griswold have rejected the comparison between the two cases.

In a video statement posted online, Weiser said Peters’ sentence should not be reduced.

“The sentence for former county clerk Tina Peters, a convicted felon, should not be commuted,” Weiser said. “She broke the law. She undermined the integrity of the elections.”

Weiser argued that commuting Peters’ sentence would weaken accountability for crimes involving elections.

Griswold said the two cases are not comparable, citing the impact Peters’ actions had on election systems.

A Republican lawmaker also entered the debate.

State Rep. Ken DeGraaf (El Paso County) criticized Weiser’s comments in a social media post responding to a video the attorney general posted on Wednesday.

wheezer needs to keep Jena in jail to keep himself out.
His own team referred to the bios passwords published by Jena as "the keys to the kingdom." Those keys were compromised for at least 6 months during an active investigation. Jena "oopsies" her way out of her… https://t.co/JxTAHFVUbo

— Rep Ken deGraaf, CO HD-22 (@COrepKdeGraaf) March 5, 2026

Peters’ legal team closed their statement by urging the governor to move forward with clemency.

“It will take great courage for Governor Polis to grant Tina clemency, and Tina thanks him,” the statement said.

Polis said he is reviewing clemency petitions under the governor’s constitutional authority. In a recent social media post, he noted the deadline for applications has been extended until April 3.

Last week, former State Senator Sonya Jaquez Lewis was sentenced to probation and community service after being convicted of four felonies including Attempt to Influence a Public Official. She made a horrible mistake, and she was wrong. I hope she learns from this and can rebuild…

— Jared Polis (@jaredpolis) March 4, 2026

Whether Peters ultimately receives clemency remains uncertain, but the comparison between the Lewis and Peters cases has quickly become part of the debate surrounding the governor’s decision.

Editor’s note: This report follows earlier coverage examining the conviction of former state Sen. Sonya Jaquez Lewis and the sentencing comparison that later surfaced in clemency discussions surrounding former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters. Readers can review the earlier reports here:
• From ethics complaint to felony conviction: How forged letters ended a Colorado lawmaker’s career
• Same Colorado law, different outcomes: Probation in Denver, prison in Mesa County