On January 6, 2021, the world watched as Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol in an effort to halt the certification of Joe Biden as President. Among those involved were Jason Riddle, a US Navy veteran, and Pamela Hemphill, a 71-year-old woman. Both have since faced legal repercussions for their participation in the attack. Riddle pleaded guilty to misdemeanors and received a 90-day prison sentence along with a $750 fine in April 2022. Hemphill also pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge, resulting in a 60-day prison sentence and three years of probation. Despite former President Donald Trump's offer of blanket pardons to those charged or convicted, both Riddle and Hemphill have rejected the pardon.
Riddle's actions on that fateful day were not minor. He entered the US Senate parliamentarian's office, consumed alcohol, stole a book, and inflicted damage within the Capitol. Yet, he now distances himself from accepting a pardon from Trump. Riddle expressed concerns that accepting the pardon might hinder his future employment prospects. In his words, “I don’t want the pardon. And I … reject the pardon.”
“It’s almost like [Trump] was trying to say it didn’t happen. And it happened. I did those things, and they weren’t pardonable.” – Jason Riddle
Riddle continues to grapple with the implications of the riot, which was linked to several deaths, including officer suicides. As a self-described recovering alcoholic, he acknowledges that he was not in recovery at the time of the attack. His decision to reject the pardon seems rooted in a desire to confront his past actions head-on.
“Remember what happened at the [Capitol] riot? Someone might get hurt. Why would you ask people to protest?” – Jason Riddle
Pamela Hemphill also stood firm in her decision to decline Trump's offer. She criticized narratives portraying the attack as a peaceful protest, emphasizing the gravity of the event.
“Propaganda that [the attack] was a peaceful protest” – Pamela Hemphill
Hemphill plans to formally file a letter rejecting the pardon, aligning herself with Riddle's stance against accepting clemency from Trump. However, there is currently no consensus among legal experts on whether individuals like Riddle and Hemphill can legally reject such pardons.
The events surrounding January 6 continue to reverberate through US politics. New York state prosecutors convicted Trump of 34 felonies related to the attack, though he was not sentenced due to his subsequent presidency. His offer of pardons to over 1,500 people involved in the incident has sparked debates about accountability and justice.
For Riddle, the decision to reject the pardon represents a step towards personal accountability and a fresh start outside of Trump's influence.
“And I’m sure that’s fine in the Maga world with whoever supports Trump, but I don’t want to spend the rest of my life wondering if [those at] the job I’m applying to … like Trump.” – Jason Riddle