‘Integrity And Faith’: Mike Pence Commends Convicted Jan. 6 Rioter Who Refused Pardon

Politics

Former Vice President Mike Pence recently penned a letter to a woman convicted for her role in the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, riot, praising her decision to turn down a presidential pardon from Donald Trump.

Pamela Hemphill, a self-described “ex-MAGA Granny,” took to social media Tuesday to reveal that the former veep declared that her “honorable decision speaks volumes” about her “commitment to the Rule of Law.”

“I am certain that your willingness to accept responsibility has inspired many Americans by your example of integrity and faith,” read the letter dated just one day after Hemphill explained why she refused the pardon on CNN.

Earlier this month, Hemphill — who spent two months in a federal prison and remains on probation for a misdemeanor count of demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building — told CNN’s Pamela Brown that she didn’t want to be part of Trump’s “narrative,” saying that accepting a pardon would be a “slap” in the face to Capitol police officers and the rule of law.

Pam Hemphill, a South Carolina resident who served a federal prison sentence for her role in the Jan. 6th riot, poses for a photo in Conway, South Carolina, Jan. 28, 2024.
Pam Hemphill, a South Carolina resident who served a federal prison sentence for her role in the Jan. 6th riot, poses for a photo in Conway, South Carolina, Jan. 28, 2024.

Matt Kelley via AP

“The cost of continuing to lie or be dishonest with yourself, it’s not worth it. It’s not worth — anything they want to do to me, it’s OK. I’m not worried about nothing,” she explained at the time.

Hemphill on Tuesday reacted to Pence’s message on X, formerly Twitter.

“It’s been a long and hard journey, but this letter I received today has made every heartache, smear campaign and sleepless night more than worth it!” she wrote.

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It’s been a long and hard journey, but this letter I received today has made every heartache, smear campaign and sleepless night more than worth it! pic.twitter.com/cr2SzyujkT

— Pam Hemphill (@PamHemphill79) June 25, 2025

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It’s been a long and hard journey, but this letter I received today has made every heartache, smear campaign and sleepless night more than worth it! pic.twitter.com/cr2SzyujkT

— Pam Hemphill (@PamHemphill79) June 25, 2025

Pence — the target of Trump supporters’ “hang Mike Pence” chants as gallows stood outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 — has repeatedly defended his decision to certify the 2020 presidential election and has continued to knock Trump despite attending his inauguration in January.

The former vice president, who has previously claimed that Trump’s “reckless” words endangered his family, told CNN last month that he was “deeply disappointed” in the president for sending the “wrong message” by pardoning some 1,500 rioters on the first day of his second term.

Among those who got pardons were hundreds of rioters convicted of assaulting officers, about 1,000 nonviolent offenders and around 200 people accused of assaulting police. A number of those pardoned have since been rearrested.

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