Pamela Hemphill, a 71-year-old from Boise, Idaho, isn’t interested in a pardon from former President Donald Trump. After serving 60 days in prison for her role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, she’s made it clear: accepting the pardon would feel like a slap in the face to the Capitol Police and the rule of law.
Hemphill, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for entering the Capitol during the chaos, was sentenced to 60 days behind bars and three years of probation. While many others involved in the riot have celebrated Trump’s pardons, Hemphill is taking a different stance.
“Absolutely not,” she said in a recent interview. “It’s an insult to the Capitol Police, to the rule of law, and to the nation. If I accept a pardon, I’m continuing their propaganda, their gaslighting, and all their falsehoods about Jan. 6.”
Once dubbed “MAGA Granny” in headlines, Hemphill has since distanced herself from Trump and his claims of a stolen 2020 election. She credits therapy with helping her see the “Stop the Steal” movement in a new light.
“I lost my critical thinking,” she admitted. “Now I know it was a cult, and I was in a cult.”
Hemphill’s decision to reject the pardon was first reported by The Idaho Statesman. While she’s spoken with a lawyer about formally declining the clemency offer, she hasn’t taken any legal steps yet.
Her story is a striking reminder of how some who were swept up in the events of Jan. 6 are now grappling with the consequences—and their own beliefs.