Gov. Jared Polis faces political fallout after freeing Tina Peters
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Gov. Jared Polis speaks at a May 14 press conference about the end of the legislative session. Photo: Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post via Getty Images
To hear his critics tell it, Gov. Jared Polis is an "accomplice" to President Trump's attacks on democracy who gave Colorado "a black eye" and undermined the rule of law by granting clemency to Tina Peters.
Why it matters: The harsh words — all from leaders of his own party — show how a single once-unthinkable act could tarnish Polis' eight-year legacy and his political future.
State of play: The fallout from Polis' move to free Peters, the former Mesa County clerk who became one of the nation's most notorious 2020 election deniers, is deepening, with two top Democrats calling for his impeachment.
- David Seligman, a candidate for attorney general and prominent civil rights attorney, called on the Legislature to reconvene to impeach or censure the governor, who he believes deliberately waited for lawmakers to adjourn to dodge accountability.
- Melat Kiros, a progressive congressional candidate in Denver, said the governor capitulated to Trump, who repeatedly called for Peters' release. She demanded an investigation into collusion with the president.
What they're saying: "A governor who uses a constitutional power to assist an unlawful federal coercion scheme has violated his oath to defend the U.S. Constitution and Colorado's independence. This is grounds for impeachment," Kiros said in a statement.
The fine print: To convene a special legislation session requires an order from the governor or a two-thirds vote of the Legislature.
- Spokespeople for the Senate president and House speaker did not return Axios' messages about calls for impeachment.
The other side: Eric Maruyama, a Polis spokesperson, said "the governor appreciates that many in his party disagree with him and are disappointed, but disagreements, even extreme disagreements, are not impeachable offenses."
The latest: Trump made a direct appeal to Polis on a phone call last fall to release Peters. Though Polis refused to pardon her, he left open the door for clemency, the New York Times reported.
- Polis defended his decision to release Peters two years into her nine-year sentence in an interview with the Times, even as he said she embraced "dangerously incorrect" conspiracy theories.
- The governor's clemency advisory board also did not recommend clemency, the Times' reporting revealed.
What we're watching: Polis insisted he didn't capitulate, nor expect a favor in return from Trump, who has repeatedly targeted Colorado
- The Trump administration has vetoed a water pipeline in the Arkansas Valley, demanded an end to mail ballots, broke apart the Boulder-based National Center for Atmospheric Research, moved U.S. Space Command headquarters to Alabama from Colorado Springs and threatened the state's wolf reintroduction program.
The bottom line: Any leeway would likely intensify scrutiny of Polis' decision to release Peters.