Pamela Hemphill, a woman convicted for her involvement in the infamous Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, has made a dramatic decision to reject a pardon offered by former President Donald Trump, condemning the very act that led to her imprisonment.
In an exclusive interview with BBC, Hemphill, who served a 60-day sentence for her role in the violent breach of the U.S. Capitol, made her position clear: “We were wrong that day,” she said. Her stance stands in stark contrast to Trump’s decision to issue pardons to many of the rioters, arguing that those involved had already served enough time. Trump’s pardon spree has stirred controversy, especially among those within the Republican Party, who fear it may send the wrong message about the importance of upholding the rule of law.
Hemphill, who earned the moniker “Maga Granny” on social media due to her strong support of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan, dismissed the notion that pardons would help the individuals involved in the Capitol attack. “Accepting a pardon would only insult the Capitol police officers, the rule of law, and, of course, our nation,” Hemphill asserted. “We broke the law. There’s no rewriting history.”
Her decision to refuse the pardon is part of a broader conversation about the consequences of the January 6 riot, which saw a mob storm the U.S. Capitol in an attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. The attack led to the deaths of five people and resulted in the arrest of over 1,000 individuals. While Trump’s decision to pardon rioters, some of whom faced serious charges, has been controversial, Hemphill’s rejection of this offer adds another layer of complexity to the situation.
For Hemphill, accepting the pardon would have meant endorsing a “false narrative.” She elaborated, “By accepting the pardon, I would be contributing to their gaslighting of the American people. We were guilty, and we need to take responsibility for our actions.”
The decision to reject a pardon is legally significant as well. According to the U.S. Constitution, individuals have the right to refuse a presidential pardon, a legal principle upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court. This right gives Hemphill the freedom to stand by her conviction and denounce the actions of those who were involved in the riot.
The move has drawn mixed reactions from politicians across the political spectrum. While some of Trump’s supporters argue that the pardons were a necessary step to right what they see as a political injustice, others, including members of Trump’s own party, have voiced their disagreement. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis criticized Trump’s decision, stating, “I just can’t agree with this move. It raises legitimate safety concerns on Capitol Hill.”
Oklahoma Senator James Lankford echoed these sentiments in an interview with CNN, emphasizing the importance of law and order in the United States. “If you attack a police officer, that’s a very serious issue,” Lankford said. “People need to be held accountable.”
Among those pardoned was Jacob Chansley, the self-proclaimed “QAnon Shaman,” whose distinctive horned helmet became one of the most recognized symbols of the Capitol attack. Chansley, who had served 27 months of a 41-month sentence, reacted to his pardon with a display of exhilaration. “I walked outside and screamed ‘freedom’ at the top of my lungs,” Chansley shared, expressing his joy at being released.
However, Hemphill’s position highlights a growing divide within American politics about how the nation should respond to those who broke the law on that fateful day. While some rioters, like Chansley, have embraced their release, others, like Hemphill, are opting for accountability over the forgiveness offered by Trump.
The debate over the pardons reflects deeper tensions within American society regarding the aftermath of the Capitol insurrection. As the country continues to grapple with the legacy of that day, the actions of individuals like Hemphill challenge the idea of forgiving those who were part of an attack on democracy itself.
“I don’t want to be part of rewriting history,” Hemphill concluded. “We need to face the truth and deal with the consequences of our actions.”
Her words serve as a reminder that not all who participated in the Capitol riot are willing to embrace the notion of forgiveness. While Trump’s pardons may provide a sense of closure for some, others, like Hemphill, believe that justice should prevail, even if it means rejecting offers of clemency.
As Hemphill continues to stand by her conviction, her decision serves as a striking example of personal integrity and a refusal to be complicit in rewriting the narrative of one of the most significant events in recent American history.
