Colorado governor fires officials who opposed freeing election denier

DENVER — Gov. Jared Polis of Colorado on Wednesday fired two members of his clemency board after they spoke out against his decision to commute the prison sentence of election denier Tina Peters.

The board members, Hannah Seigel Proff and Azra Taslimi, had objected to Polis’ decision in May to release Peters from prison after pressure from President Donald Trump.

After the commutation, Proff and Taslimi revealed that the board — appointed by Polis — had twice voted unanimously to reject Peters’ application for a shortened sentence. Polis, a Democrat, has the final decision and overruled the board.

The board normally operates in secret, and does not disclose the pardon and commutation recommendations it makes to the governor. Proff and Taslimi said they had been compelled to pierce that veil of secrecy in Peters’ case.

On Wednesday, they said they had paid the price. They received a letter from the governor saying they were being dismissed for violating the board’s confidentiality standards.

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