Victor EzejaPamela Hemphill, one of the persons convicted for participating in the 6th January 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol, has rejected Donald Trump’s presidential pardon.
Hemphill said she and all others who participated in the riot were wrong and deserved to be punished for the act and there should be no pardon.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelShe pleaded guilty during the trial and was handed two months prison sentence which she had since served.
Speaking in an interview with BBC World Service’s Newsday programme, Hemphill explained why she doesn’t want a pardon from President Trump.
According to her, “Accepting a pardon would only insult the Capitol police officers, rule of law and, of course our nation.
“I pleaded guilty because I was guilty, and accepting a pardon also would serve to contribute to their gaslighting and false narrative.”
She accused Trump’s administration of attempting to rewrite history about what happened that day and she is not going to be part of it.
Hemphill, 71, who had supported Trump in previous elections, decided to vote for Democratic Party candidate, Kamala Harris, in the 2024 presidential election.
Prime Business Africa reports that President Trump had on Tuesday announced that he has granted pardon to many of those who participated in the riot that have been convicted.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), more than 1,580 people were involved in the riot deemed as an attempt to violently overturn the 2020 election that brought the President Joe Biden to office. They were charged for criminal offence in federal court.
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The DOJ also said the figure includes 608 individuals who have faced charges for assaulting, resisting, or interfering with law enforcement trying to protect the Capitol building on that day
About 140 law enforcement officers were injured in the attack by the rioters.
Trump’s action has been criticised by some Republican politicians, including lawmakers.
Senator Thom Tillis from North Carolina expressed surprise over Trump’s pardon.
Tillis, in an interview with CNN on Tuesday after Trump’s declaration of the pardon said it was a “Bad idea” to grant pardon to individuals convicted in assaulting police officers on lawful duty.
“Anybody who was convicted of assault on a police officer, I just can’t get there at all. I think it was a bad idea,” he stated.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
