Pamela Hemphill, a convicted participant in the January 6 Capitol riot, has chosen to decline a pardon from former President Donald Trump, declaring, “We were wrong that day.” After serving 60 days in prison following her guilty plea, Hemphill told the BBC that no one should receive pardons for their actions on January 6, 2021.
“Accepting a pardon would show a lack of respect for the Capitol police, the rule of law, and our country,” she stated. “I own my guilt, and accepting a pardon would only reinforce the misleading narrative about that day.”
Known as the “Maga granny” on social media, a nod to Trump’s slogan, Hemphill criticized the Trump administration’s efforts to “rewrite history.” She clearly expressed, “We were wrong that day; we broke the law—there should be no pardons.”
The Trump administration had previously issued pardons or reduced sentences for nearly 1,600 individuals involved in attempts to overturn the 2020 election shortly after he took office. During a recent White House press conference, Trump commented, “These individuals have suffered for years in a harsh prison environment. It has been a terrible and inhumane experience.”
