Pamela Hemphill returns to Capitol to apologize for Jan. 6 role

Pamela Hemphill, who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, returned to the building on the fifth anniversary to apologize for her actions, telling a panel of House Democrats she was "deeply grateful for this chance to try to make amends." Ms. Hemphill, a 72-year-old retired addiction counselor from Idaho, served 60 days in federal prison after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of entering the Capitol.

In the years since, she said she has turned away from President Trump and now views the Jan. 6 attack as an insurrection; she told the panel she rejected Mr. Trump’s sweeping grant of clemency and said, "Accepting that pardon would be lying about what happened on January the 6th. I am guilty.

And I own that guilt." Sitting feet away from a former Capitol Police officer who had been assaulted during the mayhem, Ms. Hemphill became emotional as she described marching into the building and asked for his forgiveness.

Key Topics

Politics, Pamela Hemphill, U.s. Capitol, Donald Trump, Capitol Police, Winston Pingeon