‘We are guilty, period.’: Idaho Jan. 6 Rioter Rejects Trump Pardon, Condemns Ongoing False Narratives

An Idaho woman convicted for her role in the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol insurrection is actively rejecting a potential pardon from President Donald Trump, citing concerns over continued misinformation surrounding the attack.

Pamela Hemphill, who was 69 at the time of her sentencing in 2022, served two months in jail after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of demonstrating, picketing, or parading in a Capitol building. Now, she is taking steps to ensure she is not included among the more than 1,500 individuals expected to receive clemency under Trump’s current efforts.

In an interview, Hemphill expressed strong opposition to the mass pardons, stating they are part of a broader effort to rewrite history and deny accountability for the events of that day.

“The pardons just contribute to their narrative, which is all lies—propaganda. We were guilty, period,” Hemphill said.

“They are using January 6 to continue Trump’s narrative that the Justice Department was weaponized. They were not. When the FBI came to my home, they were very professional. They treated me well.”

According to court records, Hemphill traveled from Idaho to Washington, D.C., in January 2021 to support Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 election results.

Prosecutors reported that she pushed through police lines on three occasions, encouraged others to force their way into the Capitol, and was later seen inside the Rotunda. They also noted that she exaggerated injuries during the chaos, allegedly to divert law enforcement attention from more violent individuals.

Although Hemphill requested a sentence of probation, the court imposed a two-month jail term, along with probation and community service, consistent with the prosecution’s recommendation.

Since her conviction, Hemphill has publicly renounced the false claims surrounding the 2020 election and described the MAGA movement as a “cult.” She referred to Trump as “felon Trump” and placed blame on him for inciting the violence.

“How could you sleep at night taking a pardon when you know you were guilty?” she asked. “I couldn’t live with myself. I have to be right with me. And with God.”

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Senator James Risch (R-ID) has reportedly assisted Hemphill in her efforts to formally reject a pardon. While his office declined to comment on the case due to privacy concerns, CBS News reported that the Office of the Pardon Attorney confirmed Hemphill’s rejection in an April letter, noting that she would not receive a formal certificate of clemency.

When asked how she thought President Trump would react to her stance, Hemphill predicted he would label her “an ungrateful lady” and potentially instruct officials to “give her the worst you can give her.”