Colorado Governor Dismisses Clef Board Members After Public Dispute Over Tina Peters Commutation

On July 1, 2026, Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado terminated two members of his state clemency board after they publicly disclosed the board’s votes and opposed his decision to commute the prison sentence of election denier Tina Peters. The dismissals were communicated via letters citing a breach of confidentiality standards.

New York Times

The Colorado clemency board, appointed by the governor, operates in secrecy and does not disclose its recommendations. In May 2026, Polis overruled the board’s unanimous rejections of Peters’ application for a shortened sentence and granted a commutation after reported pressure from President Trump.

New York Times

• May 2026: Tina Peters applies for a shortened sentence; the clemency board votes unanimously twice to reject the request.

New York Times

• May 2026: Governor Polis decides to commute the sentence, citing external pressure.

New York Times

• July 1, 2026: Board members Hannah Seigel Proff and Azra Taslimi publicly reveal the votes and criticize the decision.

New York Times

• July 1, 2026: Polis issues letters dismissing Proff and Taslimi for violating confidentiality.

New York Times

• The board voted unanimously on two separate occasions to reject Peters’ application for a shortened sentence.

New York Times

The incident illustrates a clash between executive authority and confidentiality norms in clemency deliberations. It raises questions about transparency, political pressure, and protection for dissenting board members. Observers note that the episode could affect future board composition, public trust in the clemency process, and the balance of oversight versus gubernatorial discretion.

New York Times

Polis said the board members breached confidentiality by publicly revealing the votes. The dismissed members said they felt compelled to expose the board’s internal decisions, calling the secrecy a veil that needed to be pierced, and argued that the public deserved to know how the board evaluated Peters’ request.

New York Times

Proff and Taslimi’s statements criticize the governor’s unilateral commutation and the board’s lack of transparency, emphasizing their opposition to releasing Peters despite the board’s unanimous rejections and asserting that the board’s secrecy should be pierced.

New York Times

The source provides no independent verification of the board’s internal votes beyond the members’ claims, and offers no details on the alleged pressure from President Trump. No other officials or external observers are quoted regarding the dismissals, and the governor’s rationale beyond the confidentiality breach is not elaborated.

New York Times

> “You breached the required duty of confidentiality by publicly divulging board members’ votes,” — Governor Jared Polis, in dismissal letters to Hannah Seigel Proff and Azra Taslimi

New York Times

The former members have shared the governor’s letters with the *New York Times*, prompting media scrutiny. Future actions may include a review of clemency-board confidentiality policies, possible legal challenges by the dismissed members, and decisions by the governor regarding new board appointments.

New York Times