01/07/2026
"We were guilty, period." One former Trump supporter, Pamela Hemphill, refused to be party to Trump's attempt to downplay the significance of the violent insurrection of the U.S. Capitol which took place five years ago today on January 6, 2021. Hemphill formally rejected Trump's pardon for her participation in the January 6th Capitol riot, asserting that a pardon "would be a slap in the face to the Capitol police officers, to the rule of law and to our whole nation."
"The pardons just contribute to their narrative, which is all lies, propaganda," continued the 72-year-old Hemphill from her home in Idaho. Her principled stance stands in stark contrast to the more than 1,500 other January 6th defendants who eagerly accepted clemency from the Trump administration, even those who assaulted police officers while attacking and ransacking the U.S. Capitol.
In 2021, Hemphill flew from Idaho to Washington D.C. to support Trump's effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Prosecutors said she pushed through police lines three different times as the crowd grew increasingly violent, encouraged fellow rioters to push their way inside the building, and was later seen inside the Capitol Rotunda. Court documents show she had posted on social media before the event, writing "it's a WAR!" and that she was on her way to Washington. Hemphill pleaded guilty in January 2022 to a count of unlawful parading and was sentenced later that year to a term that included three years of probation. She served 60 days in jail, received 36 months of probation, and was ordered to pay $500 in restitution.
Hemphill's journey to rejecting Trump began with her growing awareness of how she had been manipulated. "I didn't realize that brainwashing was happening with Trump in 2016," she said in an August 2024 interview. "This is how [my family] would talk to me. 'Pam, you know, the Democrats... are trying to take over. They're getting more aggressive.' I tend to believe them. You know, I wasn't doing my own research." Hemphill admitted that Trump's rhetoric on immigration and border security initially attracted her support. Her time in jail led to serious reflection about her actions.
After her release, she began spending time in online groups with other January 6 participants, where she realized "how much disinformation was being spread and how difficult it was to combat falsehoods with the truth." Now, she says, her participation in January 6th is "like a scar that I have to carry for the rest of my life... It's gonna be that shame(ful) feeling," leading her to forever regret that she was "a part of that craziness, that cult."
The cost of Hemphill's moral stand has been considerable. She has received death threats since breaking with MAGA and faced persistent online harassment. Her choice to speak up hasn't been easy, and she's had to move residences because the movement she once supported has turned against her.
"I'm not going to be bullied by MAGA anymore," she wrote on social media, noting that Trump supporters have allegedly gone so far as to call her probation officer trying to get her "in trouble" in the wake of her media appearances condemning the riot. Despite these challenges, Hemphill remains committed to honesty about what happened on January 6th, describing it as "the worst day in our history."
Yet her stand has also drawn unexpected support. Former Vice President Mike Pence -- who was inside the Capitol on January 6th when rioters chanted "Hang Mike Pence" and whom Trump criticized for certifying the election results -- wrote Hemphill a letter in June expressing admiration for her decision to reject the pardon.
In an era when so many have chosen partisan loyalty over truth, Hemphill's example offers a reminder that accountability begins with oneself. Out of more than 1,500 pardoned defendants, only two have rejected clemency out of conscience: Hemphill and Navy veteran Jason Riddle of New Hampshire. It's proof that accountability can still prevail over complicity.
Kudos to Pamela Hemphill for her courage and integrity!
To inspire children and teens with stories of real-life girls and women who stood up for truth and justice throughout history, visit our blog post, "Dissent Is Patriotic: 50 Books About Women Who Fought for Change," at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=14364
For an excellent book for kids about the events of January 6th and the importance of respecting the electoral process, we recommend "Losing is Democratic: How to Talk to Kids About January 6th" for ages 7 and up at https://bookshop.org/a/8011/9798989493449 (Bookshop) and https://amzn.to/4e6KFbB (Amazon)
For powerful books for tweens and teens about girls living in real-life oppressive societies throughout history where rulers didn't respect the rule of law, visit our blog post "The Fragility of Freedom: Mighty Girl Books About Life Under Authoritarianism" at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=32426
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Thanks to The New York Times for sharing this image!
