Her refusal to accept clemency is a bold statement of her disapproval of Trump and his role in the events of January 6. In an interview, Hemphill expressed that accepting the pardon would be an affront to the Capitol Police and the rule of law. “It’s an insult to the Capitol Police, to the rule of law, and to the nation,” she said. “If I accept a pardon, I’m continuing their propaganda, their gaslighting, and all their falsehoods about Jan. 6.”