Impeach Jared Polis?
It may be necessary...
This probably sounds drastic, but I think Colorado Democrats may have to impeach and remove their governor, Jared Polis, who is also a Democrat.
They should, at the very least, raise the prospect that they will begin an impeachment proceeding. But if Polis can not be discouraged from doing something as foolish and dangerous as he’s contemplating, they should actually oust him from office—or, at least, leave his fate in the hands of Republicans in the Colorado Senate.
Why? Because Polis appears intent on granting clemency to a felon named Tina Peters. As at the federal level, the pardon power in Colorado is plenary. Polis can do this if he so chooses, and Peters would be released from prison if that’s what Polis decides to do. But Peters is no normal felon, let alone the kind of repentant felon who might deserve a pardon or commutation.
No, Peters is a criminal insurrectionist. And unlike many of the people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, Peters couldn’t claim to be a nobody who got swept up in something chaotic and didn’t know any better. Her crimes were grave and premeditated.
You can tell they were grave, and that she deserves no clemency, without knowing anything about her conduct. All you need to know is that Donald Trump has taken a special interest in her case, demanded her release, and threatened the state of Colorado with illegal reprisals if Polis does not free her.
Indeed, it was only after Trump took up her cause that Polis decided: maybe this is a good idea! More recently, he’s begun torturing logic and history to mislead Coloradans into believing Peters might have received excessive punishment, or that clemency for Peters would be consistent with precedent.
Peters was not over-punished. She is elderly. At some point she may merit compassionate release. But granting her clemency would break faith with the citizens of Colorado, and the country at large. It would teach future insurrectionists that they and their allies in power can bully their way out of accountability for criminal conduct. As such, it would represent a violation of his oath of office. Even if we grant he is only contemplating an action like this under duress.
So let’s build a case for Colorado Democrats to wield the threat of impeachment as a deterrent.