{"id":838,"date":"2026-01-14T13:27:30","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T13:27:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sleepystork.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/14\/polis-should-keep-tina-peters-behind-bars-and-use-her-as-a-bargaining-chip-letters\/"},"modified":"2026-01-14T13:27:30","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T13:27:30","slug":"polis-should-keep-tina-peters-behind-bars-and-use-her-as-a-bargaining-chip-letters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sleepystork.com\/index.php\/2026\/01\/14\/polis-should-keep-tina-peters-behind-bars-and-use-her-as-a-bargaining-chip-letters\/","title":{"rendered":"Polis should keep Tina Peters behind bars and use her as a bargaining chip (Letters)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Should Tina Peters remain behind bars or be used as a bargaining chip?<\/h4>\n

Re: “Tina Peters: Polis calls sentence ‘harsh’<\/a>,” Jan. 10 news story<\/p>\n

I was distressed to read that Gov. Jared Polis is considering \u201crevisiting\u201d the prison sentence against former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters. At a time when our right to vote is under threat more than at any time in recent history, this absolutely sends the wrong message to those who are attempting to limit our voting rights.<\/p>\n

Since the assault on our Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, our systems providing all citizens the right to vote have been under attack. Recent articles have identified the concerns of Colorado county clerks about possible attacks on our elections in 2026. Tina Peters\u2019 case could be the poster child for that very threat.<\/p>\n

Notwithstanding all the arguments to be made against commuting or pardoning her sentence, the fact is that, as the judge noted, she shows a total lack of remorse for her actions. She has continued to contend that her actions were appropriate, and I have no doubt that she would not hesitate to do them again (or if released, to support anyone else who would do the same).<\/p>\n

I urge the governor to let the judge\u2019s sentence stand, to protect our right to vote in Colorado, and as an example of the importance of this constitutional liberty.<\/p>\n

Brad Buckner,\u00a0Littleton<\/em><\/p>\n

Gov. Jared Polis should pardon Tina Peters.<\/p>\n

Seeing that Polis is open to pardoning convicted felon Peters, he should leverage that pardon with President Donald Trump. Polis should have Trump agree to restore all funding for NCAR, NREL, education, children\u2019s health care and low-income food assistance, and Trump should allow the Craig coal-fired power plant to be closed and Space Command be permanently located in Colorado Springs. It has to be all or nothing.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a win-win situation with Trump getting Peters pardoned and Polis getting all federal government funding restored to make Colorado great again.<\/p>\n

Michael May, Lakewood<\/em><\/p>\n

If Gov. Jared Polis commutes the sentence for Tina Peters, he is basically rubber-stamping the Trump policy of favoritism. She was rightfully convicted by a jury of her peers. She did her best to undermine the basic tenets of our democracy and was found guilty for doing so.<\/p>\n

The harm done by her will be equaled or surpassed by the governor if he chooses to allow her to forgo the consequences. He will have undermined any chance of anyone believing in the integrity of our voting system, and\/ or our justice system.<\/p>\n

Eileen Lorimer, Denver<\/em><\/p>\n

Appreciation of different perspectives offered about Minneapolis shooting<\/h4>\n

Re: “What readers saw: The killing of driver in Minneapolis<\/a>,” Jan. 9 letters to the editor<\/p>\n

The Post published four letters from readers regarding the recent incident in which a woman in Minnesota was shot and killed by an ICE agent who felt his life was threatened. I appreciate the editors\u2019 decision to post an equal number and quality of letters representing opposing views. In our divided country, the media has to walk the high wire of perceived bias, and way too many members have fallen off to the right or the left, and\/or missed the net entirely.<\/p>\n

As a person with a strong bias myself, I may not agree with most of the opinions expressed by two of the writers, but I did get some insight into the reasoning behind their beliefs.<\/p>\n