Pam Hemphill Stands Firm Against Pardon for Capitol Riot Involvement
In a surprising turn, one of the individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riots, Pam Hemphill, has declined a presidential pardon offered by President Trump. Despite the recent clemency extended to over 1,500 participants, Hemphill insists that accepting the pardon would undermine the truth of what transpired that day.
“I broke the law that day, period. Black and white,” Pamela Hemphill told NPR’s All Things Considered. “I’m not a victim, I’m a volunteer.”
At 71, Hemphill was a dedicated supporter of Trump when she joined the crowds in Washington, D.C., aiming to disrupt the certification of President Biden’s election win. Influenced by Trump’s claims of election fraud, she participated in the Capitol breach, prompting chaos and fear among lawmakers.
Rejecting the pardon, Hemphill stated it “would be a slap in the face to the Capitol police officers, to the rule of law and to our whole nation.” She further emphasized her unwillingness to support “false propaganda” that suggests the event was a peaceful protest.
Hemphill admitted guilt to a misdemeanor charge of parading, picketing, or demonstrating in the Capitol and served a 60-day sentence. Post-incarceration, she engaged with online groups of fellow rioters but soon noticed widespread misinformation.
“When I found out that they were actually lying about a lot of things and I would bring them facts, they would get mad at me. And then they eventually had me leave, so I started doing my own research,” Hemphill explained.
She described a realization of naivety, saying, “It’s like, how was I so naïve? Well, I see now how I was, because it’s a cult and you get gaslighted, and they lie to you and say there’s this deep state, and the DOJ is against Trump and all this garbage.”
Her post-arrest notoriety earned her the nickname “MAGA Granny” on social media, where some used her image to argue against what they called political persecution. However, Hemphill now distances herself from such claims, having recognized the falsehoods propagated by Trump to maintain power.
Despite the backlash, Hemphill remains committed to sharing the true account of the events on January 6. “It’s been horrible, the attacks and what I’ve had to go through to keep my voice out there, because this is my amends to change the narrative of January 6th. It’s so important that people have the facts,” she stated.
Highlighting her stance, Hemphill declared, “Trump is a criminal. He broke the law. He has to keep this narrative going that the DOJ is weaponized against him and his followers. And we know that is not true. There’s been enough evidence to prove that.”
Recently, Trump was found guilty of falsifying business records, yet received an unconditional discharge shortly before his inauguration, avoiding imprisonment or fines.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
