Grandmother who went to jail over Capitol riot turns down Trump's pardon for one reason
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics
Gerrard Kaonga
Featured Image Credit: KTVB / Samuel Corum/Getty Images
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics
A woman who spent time in jail for her actions on January 6 has condemned Donald Trump for granting pardons in a shock admission.
Donald Trump was sworn back into office on January 20 and took steps to issue pardons to over 1,500 criminals involved in the Capitol Riots.
However, one woman refused this pardon and has criticized this move from Trump.
Despite criticism from opponents and allies alike, the president defended the move to pardon those convicted.
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In a news conference on Tuesday at the White House, he said: “These people have already served years in prison, and they've served them viciously.
“It's a disgusting prison. It's been horrible. It's inhumane. It's been a terrible, terrible thing."
Pamela Hemphill, 71, served 60 days in prison after pleading guilty to her role in the 2021 riots.
On social media she was dubbed the ‘MAGA Granny’ and has since spoken out following the news of the pardons.
Hemphill explained that her reasoning for refusing her pardon was straightforward and she opposed the pardoning of all the January 6 rioters, not just her own.
She said: “We were wrong that day. We broke the law - there should be no pardons.”
She also added that in accepting a pardon would be ‘insult the Capitol police officers, the rule of law, and, of course, our nation.’
She went as far to accuse Trump of attempting to rewrite history regarding what happened that day.
She continued: “I pleaded guilty because I was guilty.
“Accepting a pardon would only contribute to their gaslighting and false narrative.”
When quizzed by a journalist on whether violent criminals who took part in the riots should be pardoned, Trump had a rather lackluster and unfocussed answer.
Daniel Joseph 'DJ' Rodriguez attacked officer Michael Fanone with a stun gun to his neck, with Rodriguez pleading guilty to felony conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding, tampering with documents or proceedings and inflicting bodily injury on officers using a deadly or dangerous weapon.
He was sentenced to over 12 years in prison for his crimes.
During a press briefing at the White House, a reporter asked Trump: "You would agree it's never acceptable to assault a police officer?"
In a clip of the press conference shared online by Forbes, the president responds: "Sure."
The journalist continues: "So then if I can, among those you pardon, DJ Rodriguez he drove a stun gun into the neck of a DC police officer who was abducted by the mob that day.
"He later confessed on video to the FBI and pleaded guilty for his crimes - why does he deserve a pardon?"
Trump's first response saw him state: "Well, I don't know, was it a pardon? Because we're looking at commutes and we're looking at pardons."
When the reporter informed Trump he had pardoned Rodriguez, he added: "OK, well, we'll take a look at everything but I can say this, murderers today are not even charged, you have murderers that aren't charged all over."