🧑‍⚖️ A new turn in the Tina Peters case

Convicted ‘Election Denier’ Tina Peters Faces New Sentence

The Colorado Court of Appeals ordered that the disgraced former Mesa County elections clerk Tina Peters be resentenced by a district court judge, effectively overturning her nine-year prison sentence Thursday. Peters was convicted in 2024 on four felony and three misdemeanor charges related to election tampering in 2020.

• The reason for the decision: The panel of appellate judges found that her original sentencing was unfairly based on Peters’ “persistence in espousing her beliefs regarding the integrity of the 2020 election” — which the judges say was, and is, her right to free speech. The judge who originally sentenced Peters at the time declared her “a charlatan who used, and is still using, [her] prior position in office to peddle a snake oil.” [CO Sun]
• What happens next? If Peters accepts the ruling (including that her convictions were correct, even if her sentencing was not), the case will go back to the original sentencing judge, who will resentence her. If Peters rejects the appellate court’s decision, her case will likely go before the Colorado Supreme Court for further review. [CPR]
• What’s not changing: Her guilty convictions. The appellate judges maintained there was sufficient evidence proving Peters guilty of her crimes. They also affirmed that President Trump’s attempts to pardon Peters’ carried no authority. [CPR; CO Sun]
• A statement from the attorney general: AG and gubernatorial candidate Phil Weiser said in a statement, “Whatever happens with her sentence, Tina Peters will always be a convicted felon who violated her duty as Mesa County clerk, put other lives at risk and threatened our democracy. Nothing will remove that stain.”
• What about clemency? Gov. Jared Polis has signaled multiple times that he’s willing to consider granting leniency to Peters and potentially reduce her sentence, which he has described as “harsh.” The governor previously said he’d make his decision after the Colorado Court of Appeals made its ruling. In a statement Thursday, Polis only said, “My job as governor is to focus on what is right, not what is popular.” [CO Sun]

🎧 What’s next? We discuss this new turn in the infamous Tina Peters case on today’s podcast episode, along with all the other biggest stories from around the city today. Tune in now ⬇️

🍹 Got a Parking Ticket? Get a Free Marg

Illegal Pete’s wants to give you a break. Bring your recent parking ticket into any Illegal Pete’s location and get a free margarita or draft beer with the purchase of an adult entrée — no catch! Pro-tip: same deal goes for day-of concert tickets. [Illegal Pete’s]

• Catch another break: Through today, Snooze Eateries across the country are offering the “gas price promo.” Mention the promo and get a discount on your bill equal to your state’s current average gas price (Colorado’s is $3.91). [Snooze Eatery]

🥢 Chinese Staple in Baker Shutters Suddenly

Imperial Chinese ended 41 years of business with little more than a note on the door at 431 South Broadway, citing “rising operating costs and ongoing economic challenges.” Hong Kong immigrant Johnny Hsu opened Imperial in 1985. Just last year, the current owner announced plans to open a chain of fast-casual offshoots, none of which ever came to fruition. [Westword]

🛴 New E-Scooter Contract Delayed … Again

Denver City Council’s Transportation and Infrastructure Committee postponed its vote (for a second time) on a contract with Veo, the city’s prospective and exclusive new microtransit provider. Council members say they’ve been given little time to review contract details and have concerns about a clause that could charge low-income riders $5 a month for the service that, under Lime and Bird, is currently offered for free. [9News]

• Deadline approaching: The Veo contract vote was pushed to April 15. Lime and Bird’s contracts with the city expire on May 15.

🪶 Lookout Mountain’s Historic Pahaska Tepee Poised to Reopen

The former gift shop and cafe attached to the Buffalo Bill Museum and Grave atop Lookout Mountain has sat empty for over a year since the city shuttered it in 2024. Now, officials are prepared to finally reopen the historic building as a restaurant and retail shop with a focus on Indigenous history and culture that will potentially include Denver dining fave Tocabe, which specializes in Native American-inspired cuisine. [Denverite]

• The history: Pahaska Tepee was built by Buffalo Bill’s foster son circa 1921 and housed the original Buffalo Bill museum until the city later moved the exhibit to a larger structure next door. The building then operated as a popular family-run gift shop and cafe for decades before the city shut it down for restorations. [KUNC]