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Pamela Hemphill, who pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor charge and spent 60 days behind bars for her role in the Capitol riots, says she no longer believes the lies President Trump promoted.

npr.orgA Jan. 6 defendant tells NPR why she turned down Trump's pardonPamela Hemphill, who pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor charge and spent 60 days behind bars for her role in the Capitol riots, says she no longer believes the lies President Trump promoted.

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It's convenient to disavow responsibility after facing consequences, but her change of heart doesn't erase the harm caused by her actions or the fact that she was misled by false claims in the first place. Accountability is key.

She literally says "I broke the law," served her time, and is now trying to fix some damage done by the riot. She also never disallowed responsibility. She plead guilty because she knew she committed a crime. She is actively trying to NOT disavow her responsibility.

It sounds like she has been held accountable by serving her sentence. Now she is receiving abuse for continuing to atone for her actions that she fully takes responsibility for. No one is saying she’s innocent, but it is commendable that she is trying to repair some of the damage she caused.

Congratulations on not gaslighting yourself. This is what strength looks like & not accepting a false reality like the rest of them decided to do. Saying they were there to help CP fight Antifa, they know that's not true, but they'll push the lie to benefit themselves. Cowards.

I've got a lot of respect for someone who can own up to their mistakes and admit that they were duped. I foolishly believed many maga folks would see the light after j6, but sadly, Pamela is a bit of a unicorn.

I was critical of her the other day in another post, mainly because she was a supporter of the Mango Manchurian. I've read more about this and changed my tune. She now understands that MAGA and the MAGALOONS are a cult, and not to be followed or believed.

People are allowed to change and grow. At any point in their life. Acting like people will never be good enough because of what they used to believe is exactly why so many people on the right will never change their thinking.

All the inane, mindless "documentaries" on the streamers these days. Why not make one on this woman digging her way out of the rabbit hole.

🤣 So! What! Her actions & her opinion of the events, is entirely on her. President Trump never told her, or any one, to be there, nor did he give any one permission to be an idiot. It's on her. It's her life. She is responsible for that stupid decision to be in that mob. She needs to grow-up.

I mean, that's a great story and all but she doesn't need the pardon to get out of jail, she's already done her time and that on the criminal record of a 71 year old woman means nothing. It meant nothing for her to accept or refuse. I'm glad she's speaking out though and found this as a way to do it

Thank you @npr.org 4 doing right thing w/ this story. I'm sure there's more among the 1500 who know they committed crimes Please don't stop with 1 Find the rest Help them find each other Help them get help-to cope w/ the shame 4 actions, 2 speak truth to Trump, 2 protect themselves from Tarrio et al

Neither do any of the oleaginous sycophants in the GOP Senate and House who support him. Nor do any of the SCOTUS justices. Nor do any of the broligarchs. Nor do his children. But they are willing to maintain the Big Lie for sake of convenience, fear, and power. Kind of sad, actually.

For a lot of ppl, it's pizzagate & Wayfair conspiracy that got them into the cult. Both involve wanting to protect children, which is noble. Redirecting the energy towards real organizations that help dismantle trafficking networks might distract from the cult while addressing the issue they saw