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A Capitol riot protester has rejected US President Donald Trump’s pardon, criticising him for trampling on the law.
Pam Hemphill partook in the January 6, 2021, riots that sought to overturn former President Joe Biden’s victory in the elections.
The South Carolina resident was later sentenced to two months in prison and a three-year probation. She has since become a vocal Trump critic.
After his inauguration on Monday, Trump issued a blanket pardon for all protesters who were serving time in prison, fulfilling a promise he made during his campaigns.
“Every one of them gaslight you and try to have you feel sorry for them that the Capitol police attacked them, that they were the victims that day. They were not the victims. They were the perpetrators. It was an insurrection. They know exactly what they were doing,” Hemphill told CNN on Tuesday.
“It’s just so difficult to wrap around my head right now that Trump could let these criminals out, some of them had criminal records before January 6.”
In a separate video, Hemphill said she would refuse the presidential pardon.
“I will not accept a pardon because that would be an insult to the Capitol police officers, to the rule of law and to the nation,” she said.
The now-activist said she was not afraid of being a target for Republicans, adding that she was already the subject of smear campaigns.
Following the attack, congress established a committee to investigate and report on the facts, circumstances, and causes of the insurrection.
Nearly 1,600 suspects were charged, 1,270 convicted, and only two were acquitted.
In the final hours of his presidency, Biden pardoned members of the investigative committee, fearing a reprisal from Trump.
The former president said his actions were not an admission of guilt.
