Tina Peters released from La Vista Correctional Facility in Pueblo

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) - Former Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Tina Peters walked out of the La Vista Correctional Facility on June 1, 2026, according to the Colorado Department of Corrections. Peters' release comes just weeks after Colorado Governor Jared Polis officially commuted her nearly 9-year prison sentence.

La Vista is primarily a medium-security facility for women.

PRIOR COVERAGE: Gov. Polis grants clemency to former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters

Our team was live outside of the front doors of the La Vista Correctional Facility, awaiting her release.

Peters was convicted on seven counts -- four felonies and three misdemeanors -- after being accused of giving access to election software to an unauthorized person.

A jury in Grand Junction found former Colorado clerk Tina Peters guilty of seven out of 10 counts, including four felonies, in a security breach of her county’s election computer system.

In 2024, the jury found Peters guilty on the following charges:

• Three counts of attempt to influence a public servant
• One count of conspiracy to commit criminal impersonation
• One count of official misconduct
• One count of violation of duty
• One count of failure to comply with secretary of state requirements

Her sentence began in October 2024, and she appealed it in January of this year, a few months after President Donald Trump announced that he'd be pardoning her.

Gov. Jared Polis commuted Peters' sentence several weeks ago, making her eligible for parole as of midnight Sunday.

Under a commuted sentence, Peters won't be required to serve the remainder of her sentence, but will remain a convicted felon.

Tina Peters' attorney spoke with KRDO13 about her release and how she is today.

"I did speak to her. She's, you know, she needs time. She needs a little bit of R&R, a little rest and relaxation, to get to be her old self again," said Peter Ticktin,

Peters' attorney, Peter Ticktin, says Peters will meet with her parole officer as needed. He also said she will be required to communicate with them regarding requests to leave the state. KRDO13 reached out to the CDOC for more details on the terms of Peters' parole. CDOC said it could not share the time of Peters' release. The department also said it could not comment on Peters' parole specifically and shared general parole guidelines.

"You know, they say freedom isn't free. Well, now, Tina Peters is," said Peter's lead attorney, Peter Ticktin.

Ticktin maintained that Peters did nothing wrong and agreed with the statements she made on a podcast with Steve Bannon, claiming that "she was in prison as retribution."

These claims are not true, according to the courts, where Peters was convicted in 2024 of multiple felonies for allowing fellow election deniers access to local voting systems in search of voter fraud following President Donald Trump's loss in the 2020 election. 

In Gov. Polis's commutation letter, he wrote, "Importantly, your application demonstrates taking responsibility for your crimes, and a commitment to follow the law going forward. For these reasons, I am commuting your sentence."

We reached out to the outgoing governor's office today for comment regarding Peters and her attorneys' statements following her release. The governor's office directed us back to his previous statements, which you can read below, and his recent post on Substack.

“Tina Peters committed real crimes. She violated the public trust. She broke the law. Her actions imposed real costs on Mesa County. She deserved to be convicted. She deserved to serve time in prison. She remains a convicted felon beyond today, the last day she’s behind bars. Going forward, she’ll have to abide by strict conditions of parole.”

“Tina Peters finally accepts responsibility for her crimes and pledges to follow the law going forward. Tina Peters said: ‘For years I’ve dedicated myself. But I made mistakes. Four years ago, I misled the Secretary of State when allowing a person to gain access to county voting equipment. That was wrong.’ I am glad that she is finally taking accountability for her actions.”

- Previous statements from Governor Jared Polis

Her attorney thanked Governor Polis and President Trump for "giving Governor Polis some things to think about." Ticktin also said Peters will continue to fight.

"We don't know what kind of help she'll be able to give to whom. But I can tell you that she's not finished fighting for our country, one way or another. I mean, she has no plans right now. It's going to take time to get that all figured out. But she is still the American hero that I just told you about," said Ticktin.

He stated that those opposed to Peters' release are criminals in their own right.

"I'm hoping, I don't know if that's going to happen or not, but I'm hoping that Jena Griswold actually does find out what it's like to be on the inside of a prison cell," Ticktin continued, "She should be going someplace to pray that that that people don't come after her because I'm asking the DOJ to prosecute Jena Griswold, and I expect that it will happen."

The Secretary of State, Jena Griswold, spoke with KRDO13 about Peters' release.

"Overall, it's a gross injustice to Coloradans or our elections and our democracy. Literally, she gets out of prison and goes on to Steve Bannon's show and continues to spew lies and conspiracies, and her lies and her actions have been used to fuel the threat environment, further undermining our elections through conspiracies," said Jen Griswold.

She said that she strongly opposes Governor Polis' decision to commute Peters' sentence.

"Ultimately, Tina Peters compromised her voting equipment. My office discovered it. We investigated and ensured that she faced accountability. Anyone breaking the law deserves to face accountability," Griswold continued. "Her words on the Steve Bannon show, her lawyer's words underlined that she does not have remorse. I continue to believe that this was a horrendous decision, both for our elections and election workers, but also for our democracy."

Griswold noted that Vice President JD Vance had mentioned that Tina Peters may be considered for compensation from the DOJ's government weaponization fund. Griswold said this sends the wrong message.

She also says that the calls for her to be criminally prosecuted are unfounded.

"That is based on conspiracies, lies and falsehoods. And I think the big picture is, Tina Peters committed crimes. The Court of Appeals, when they looked at her case, they they, again affirmed that she committed crimes," stated Griswold.

She said this is part of a larger election denial movement, using fear to deter election officials from safeguarding elections.

"Tina Peters, her attorneys, what they're trying to do is undermine elections. You do that by attacking elections, pushing out conspiracies, and creating a threat environment. So, election workers leave their jobs," explained Griswold.

Several people gathered outside La Vista -- including one man from Hawaii -- to show their support for Peters.

Meanwhile, another man drove around the facility in a truck, pulling a trailer with the message "Free Tina," and holding what appeared to be an orange prison jumpsuit with the name of Jena Griswold, Colorado Secretary of State, on it, blaming her for Peters' conviction.

KRDO13 asked Griswold about this, and she said it was unfortunate, but would not stop her.

"I think it's really unfortunate. Again, the threat environment has been used to incentivize threats against election officials. I've received over 3,000 threats against myself, but also my husband or our one-year-old child. Four men have been found guilty of threatening my life. But I'll tell you what. I'll never back down, and they're not going to intimidate me. So I think it's really sad," said Griswold.

Griswold is running for Colorado Attorney General.

U.S. Senator Michael Bennet released a statement about Peters' release.

"Tina Peters remains a convicted felon who knowingly violated Colorado law and compromised election security. A Colorado jury found her guilty of four felonies for breaching secure election systems.

Tina Peters' release does not change the facts of her case, nor does it change our obligation to defend our democracy. At a time when President Trump continues to attack vote-by-mail, undermine confidence in our elections, and pressure public officials to bend to his political agenda, we must be even more vigilant in protecting the rule of law and the integrity of our electoral system.

Colorado's gold standard elections are among the most secure, accessible, and trusted in the nation in part because election workers, county clerks, and public servants follow the law. A jury convicted Tina Peters. An appeals court upheld those convictions. Coloradans should not be forced to subsidize anyone, especially Peters, who knowingly violated election security laws and betrayed the public trust. I will keep fighting to protect our democracy and stop this taxpayer-funded slush fund before a single dollar is paid out."

- U.S. Senator Michael Bennet

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