One of the individuals who served time for their involvement in the US Capitol riot, Pamela Hemphill, has refused a pardon from President Donald Trump, stating, “We were wrong that day.” Hemphill, who was sentenced to 60 days in prison after pleading guilty, believes that accepting a pardon would be an insult to the Capitol police officers, the rule of law, and the nation.
“I pleaded guilty because I was guilty, and accepting a pardon also would serve to contribute to their gaslighting and false narrative,” she said. Hemphill, who was nicknamed the “Maga granny” for her support of Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan, viewed the Trump administration’s efforts to “rewrite history” and did not want to be part of it.
Trump’s decision to pardon nearly 1,600 individuals involved in the January 6th attempt to violently overturn the 2020 election has sparked controversy, with some Republican politicians expressing unease. Senator Thom Tillis said he “just can’t agree” with the move, citing concerns over safety on Capitol Hill, while Senator James Lankford stated that he believed those who attacked police officers should pay a price.
This is not the first instance of an individual refusing a pardon, as it is within an individual’s rights to do so under the US Constitution. Other notable individuals, such as Jacob Chansley, the self-styled QAnon Shaman, have also received pardons, including Chansley who was released from prison in 2023 after serving 27 months of his 41-month sentence.
