Pamela Hemphill, a woman convicted for her involvement in the January 6th Capitol riot, has turned down a pardon from former President Donald Trump. Hemphill, who pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 60 days in prison, told the BBC that no pardons should be granted for those involved in the riot.
“Accepting a pardon would be an insult to the Capitol police, the rule of law, and our nation,” Hemphill stated. “I pleaded guilty because I was guilty, and accepting a pardon would only contribute to the false narrative and gaslighting surrounding the events.”
Known on social media as the “Maga granny” for her support of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan, Hemphill expressed her opposition to what she saw as the Trump administration’s attempt to “rewrite history.”
“We were wrong that day, we broke the law—there should be no pardons,” she told the BBC World Service’s Newsday program.
In the days following his inauguration, Trump announced plans to pardon or commute the sentences of nearly 1,600 individuals involved in the Capitol riot, which was aimed at overturning the 2020 election results. During a January 21 press conference, Trump described the conditions these individuals faced in prison as “disgusting” and “inhumane.”
However, his decision has been met with criticism from some Republican lawmakers. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina stated that he “just can’t agree” with the pardons, citing concerns about safety on Capitol Hill. Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma also expressed his disapproval, emphasizing that attacking police officers is a serious crime that should have consequences.
Among those pardoned was Jacob Chansley, one of the most recognizable figures from the riot, who was released from prison in 2023 after serving 27 months of his 41-month sentence. Chansley shared that he learned of his pardon while at the gym, and upon hearing the news, he exclaimed “freedom” and performed a Native American war cry.
