A group of six county clerks once again appealed to Governor Jared Polis to reject a federal request to transfer Tina Peters into federal custody on Tuesday. One official, Boulder County Clerk Molly Fitzpatrick, expressed disappointment in the governor’s silence on the matter, calling it “deafening” and “offensive.”
Fitzpatrick emphasized that the issue goes beyond politics and is about upholding what is right and lawful, ensuring accountability, and safeguarding the integrity of elections while preventing threats against election officials.
The Colorado County Clerks Association, in a virtual press conference on Tuesday morning, echoed the calls made by the state’s attorney general, Phil Weiser, and secretary of state, Jena Griswold, to keep Peters in Colorado for the duration of her nine-year sentence.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons had requested Peters’ transfer earlier this month, prompting concerns from Weiser that it could be a guise to unlawfully release her.
Despite these concerns, Governor Polis has yet to indicate how the state will respond to the request. His office did not provide specific answers last week and remained silent when questioned again on Tuesday.
In a recent statement focusing on the state’s election system, Polis’s spokeswoman, Shelby Wieman, mentioned that the governor is open to meeting with the clerks to hear their perspectives directly.
Wieman emphasized Polis’s commitment to addressing threats from the federal government that undermine democracy and defending Colorado’s values during challenging times.
The Colorado Department of Corrections, which received the letter regarding Peters’ transfer, stated that the request is currently under review.
Peters, the former Mesa County clerk, was convicted last year for unauthorized access to voting equipment. She gained notoriety for supporting former President Donald Trump’s baseless claims about the 2020 election.
Since returning to office, Trump has repeatedly demanded Peters’ release and threatened repercussions if Colorado does not comply. The Justice Department’s pardon attorney, Ed Martin, indicated that the federal government is pressuring the state to secure Peters’ release.
The letter from William K. Marshall III, the director of the federal prisons bureau, explained that Peters’ transfer would allow her to serve her state sentence in a more appropriate environment.
A complete copy of the letter was acquired by JS. The state DOC provided a redacted copy this week, with Marshall’s rationale for the request blacked out, citing an exemption in state law.
The clerks initially wrote to Governor Polis last week, urging him to reject the transfer request. With no response from the governor, Fitzpatrick announced the clerks’ call on Tuesday.
Clerks from Denver, Jackson, Mesa, Routt, and Kiowa counties also voiced their concerns, highlighting the heightened threats faced by election workers.
Routt County Clerk Jenny Thomas directly appealed to Governor Polis to keep Peters in Colorado custody, emphasizing the importance of upholding justice and accountability.
Matt Crane, the executive director of the clerks association, mentioned that there were indications of a possible transfer for Peters, citing pressure from the Trump administration and the governor’s silence as concerning factors.
Peters, currently held at the La Vista Correctional Facility in Pueblo, was placed in solitary confinement recently due to safety concerns she raised. Her attorney expressed concerns about her health and pending test results for lung cancer.
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