A self-proclaimed “former MAGA Granny,” who served time in jail for her involvement in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, has called out Donald Trump for exploiting her story for his own political agenda.
Pamela Hemphill, a 70-year-old resident of Idaho and breast cancer survivor, was featured in a Truth Social post shared by the former president on Monday.
The post read, “AMERICAN JUSTICE: 69-year-old Grandma with Cancer given more prison time for walking inside US Capitol than Hunter Biden for sharing classified documents with foreign regimes and multi-million dollar bribery schemes.” Trump added his comment, “HORRIBLE.”
However, Hemphill made it clear that she did not want sympathy from the former president and called on him to stop distorting the truth.
In a tweet directly addressed to Trump, she wrote, “Please, don’t use me for anything.” She added, “I’m not a victim of Jan6, I pleaded guilty because I was guilty!”
Furthermore, she emphasized that her case cannot be compared to that of Hunter Biden because Biden’s son did not attempt to attack the Capitol.
Hemphill was sentenced in May 2022 to 60 days in jail, 36 months’ probation, and $500 restitution for the charge of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
Facebook posts compiled by the FBI revealed Hemphill’s plans to join Trump’s rally on January 6, 2021, to protest the election results, stating, “It’s a WAR!”
In a conversation with HuffPost, Hemphill explained that she had a change of heart in April, around her 70th birthday, and distanced herself from what she referred to as Trump’s “cult.”
This transformation occurred after she engaged in discussions about the Capitol riot on Twitter spaces, where she was exposed to factual information about the incident and the 2020 election.
While serving her sentence in a federal prison in Dublin, California, from July to August of the previous year, Hemphill began to question Trump’s claims about the election.
She stated, “I was unsure. Struggling with it because it’s difficult to break free from gaslighting, Trump’s narcissism, and the tactics they employ.”
Contrary to Trump and his allies’ assertions of political persecution against Jan. 6 defendants, Hemphill firmly believes that she was treated fairly in her case.
When asked if she felt she had been treated fairly, she responded, “Oh, absolutely. They tell you that the FBI comes and knocks down your door. I don’t know if that’s true. They came in, just doing their job.”
She added, “They’re not treating January sixers any differently than any other defendants.”
Seeing Trump’s post about her on Truth Social on Monday upset Hemphill. She expressed, “Don’t portray us as victims. Nobody forced them to go inside the Capitol.”
Now that she has grounded herself in facts, Hemphill aims to help others see the truth.
Her message to others is, “Don’t be afraid to speak out.” She acknowledges that leaving the cult mentality was scary.
Hemphill, a grandmother of two, is active on Twitter, offering “facts vs J6 gaslighting” and identifying herself as an “ex-MAGA Granny” in her bio.
She is one of over 1,000 individuals who have been arrested in connection with the Capitol breach, with nearly 350 cases involving charges of assaulting or obstructing law enforcement.
Trump has been increasingly supportive of Jan. 6 defendants and has even been featured in a song called “Justice For All” alongside Washington jail inmates who call themselves the J6 Prison Choir.
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