Capitol Rioter Rejects Trump’s Pardon

Pamela Hemphill, one of the people who served time for participating in the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, has rejected a pardon offered by President Donald Trump.

Hemphill, who had pleaded guilty and served a 60-day prison sentence, explained that accepting the pardon would be disrespectful to the Capitol police officers, the rule of law, and the country as a whole. She stated, “I pleaded guilty because I was guilty, and accepting a pardon would only contribute to their gaslighting and false narrative.”

The 61-year-old, known as the “MAGA granny” on social media due to her support for Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan, emphasized that no pardons should be granted for the Capitol riot participants. “We were wrong that day, we broke the law – there should be no pardons,” she said during an interview with BBC World Service’s ‘Newsday’ program.

Trump’s decision to issue pardons for individuals involved in the January 6 events came as part of his first actions in office. In his White House press conference, Trump justified the move, claiming, “These people have already served years in prison, and they’ve served them viciously. It’s a disgusting prison. It’s been horrible. It’s inhumane. It’s been a terrible, terrible thing.”

While the pardons were welcomed by some, they have also drawn criticism from Republican figures, including Senators Thom Tillis and James Lankford. Tillis argued that the move raised “legitimate safety issues on Capitol Hill,” while Lankford stressed that attacking police officers should have serious consequences.

Among those granted pardons was Jacob Chansley, also known as the “QAnon Shaman,” who was released in 2023 after serving 27 months of a 41-month sentence. Chansley expressed his joy, saying, “I walked outside and I screamed ‘freedom’ at the top of my lungs and then gave a good Native American war cry.”

Although some individuals, like Hemphill, have refused pardons, it is within their constitutional right to do so, as ruled by the Supreme Court.
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