(Gray News) – A woman convicted for participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol says she will refuse President Donald Trump’s pardon.
Pamela Hemphill served two months in prison for her involvement in the Capitol siege over the 2020 presidential election results.
“I broke the law. I pleaded guilty because I was guilty, and we know all of them were guilty,” Hemphill admitted during an interview with CNN.
The Idaho resident said she will reject the mass pardons Trump issued after his inauguration to more than 1,500 rioters, some of them violent, who stormed the Capitol building during the certification of former President Joe Biden’s victory.
“It’s just so difficult to wrap around my head right now that Trump would let these criminals out, and they had criminal records before Jan. 6,” Hemphill said. “They are very dangerous people.”
Hemphill expressed gratitude to the law enforcement officers who were at the Capitol that day for their efforts with trying to control the crowds.
“Just know that you are the heroes. We know who the criminals are,” Hemphill added.
More than 130 officers were injured during the riot.
Hemphill said she has received death threats for feeling remorse and regret over her actions during the Capitol breach.
“This is part of my amends; to stand up to the facts of what really happened on Jan. 6, to stop the gaslighting and all the lies that have been perpetrated out there for their own benefits,” Hemphill said.
The crimes that rioters had either been convicted of or were in the process of being prosecuted against ranged from assaulting law enforcement to misdemeanor trespassing offenses.
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