A participant in the 6 January 2021 US Capitol riot has rejected a pardon from United States President, Donald Trump, citing accountability and respect for the rule of law.
Pamela Hemphill, who pleaded guilty and served a 60-day prison sentence for her role in the riot, told the BBC, “We were wrong that day.”
Hemphill, known as the “Maga granny” on social media, criticised Trump’s decision to pardon or commute sentences for those involved in the riot.
“Accepting a pardon would only insult the Capitol police officers, rule of law and, of course, our nation,” she said. “I pleaded guilty because I was guilty, and accepting a pardon also would serve to contribute to their gaslighting and false narrative.”
Hemphill accused Trump of attempting to “rewrite history” and reiterated that the actions on that day were unlawful. “We were wrong that day, we broke the law – there should be no pardons,” she said during an interview with the BBC World Service’s Newsday programme.
Trump’s decision to issue pardons for nearly 1,600 individuals tied to the Capitol riot came just hours into his presidency. At a Tuesday press conference, he defended the move, saying, “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.”
However, the decision has faced criticism, including from members of Trump’s own party. Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina expressed disapproval, stating, “I just can’t agree with the move,” and warning it could pose “legitimate safety issues on Capitol Hill.” Senator James Lankford of Oklahoma echoed these concerns, emphasising, “If you attack a police officer, that’s a very serious issue and they should pay a price for that.”
The refusal of a presidential pardon is not unprecedented. Under the US Constitution, individuals have the right to decline pardons, a position upheld by the Supreme Court.
Among those pardoned was Jacob Chansley, widely known as the “QAnon Shaman.” Released in 2023 after serving 27 months of a 41-month sentence, Chansley shared his reaction to the pardon, telling the BBC, “I walked outside and I screamed ‘freedom’ at the top of my lungs and then gave a good Native American war cry.”
