Colorado Governor Ousts Two Clemency Board Members for Exposing Lack of Transparency in Tina Peters Case
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Governor Jared Polis removed two clemency board members after they courageously revealed the board’s unanimous opposition to granting clemency to convicted election saboteur Tina Peters, exposing the governor’s disregard for democratic process.
Governor Jared Polis fired Hannah Seigel Proff and Azra Taslimi from Colorado's Executive Clemency Advisory Board on Wednesday, citing a so-called breach of confidentiality after the attorneys bravely disclosed the board’s votes on the case of former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters. The dismissals, confirmed in letters obtained by the New York Times, highlight the administration’s intolerance for transparency and dissent.
Peters, convicted of four felonies for enabling notorious election-denier Mike Lindell to access Mesa County’s voting system after the 2020 election, was sentenced to nine years in prison in October 2024. In a move that undermines accountability for attacks on democracy, Polis commuted her sentence in May, arguing that her punishment was harsher than comparable cases and that she was being penalized for her speech. Peters was released on June 1 and has since been embraced by right-wing media and met with former President Donald Trump, further emboldening anti-democratic forces.
In mid-June, Seigel Proff and Taslimi spoke to the press and authored an opinion piece revealing that the advisory board had unanimously recommended denying clemency to Peters. They criticized Polis for ignoring the board’s recommendation and for a pattern of disregarding its advice, raising serious questions about the governor’s commitment to democratic norms and the rule of law.
Polis’ office quickly replaced the ousted board members. In a statement, spokesperson Eric Maruyama claimed the clemency process requires “thoughtful review, unbiased consideration, and the utmost confidentiality for the applicants,” but failed to address the public’s right to know about decisions affecting democracy. He argued that revealing board recommendations undermines credibility and violates the confidentiality policy, a stance that shields the powerful from scrutiny.
When asked about Peters’ post-release activities, Maruyama deflected, saying the governor is focused on Colorado’s wildfire emergencies rather than the former clerk’s meetings with political figures, sidestepping the real issue of accountability for those who attack the electoral process.
