Jan. 6 Rioter Pardoned by Trump Sentenced to 10 Years for Fatal DWI Crash
Emily Hernandez, who gained notoriety for holding Nancy Pelosi's nameplate during the Capitol riot, was sentenced this week after killing a mother of two in a drunken-driving incident.
Emily Hernandez, a Missouri woman who participated in the January 6 Capitol riot and was recently pardoned by former President Donald Trump, was sentenced to 10 years in prison this week for a deadly drunken-driving crash that claimed the life of a mother of two.
Hernandez, 24, was infamously photographed holding the broken nameplate of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi after the Capitol riot in 2021, which saw Trump supporters storm the Capitol building. She served just 30 days in federal prison for her role in the insurrection, but on Wednesday, she was sentenced in Missouri state court for a tragic crash that occurred in January 2022.
On January 5, 2022, Hernandez was driving drunk the wrong way on an interstate when she collided with a vehicle carrying Victoria Wilson and her husband, Ryan Wilson. The couple was celebrating their 15th wedding anniversary. Victoria Wilson, 32, tragically died from her injuries, while Ryan Wilson sustained serious, lifelong injuries, including a debilitating foot injury.
Hernandez's blood-alcohol content was recorded at 0.125 at the time of the crash. She pleaded guilty to charges of driving while intoxicated, resulting in death and serious injury, in November 2023.
Victoria Wilson’s mother, Tonie Donaldson, spoke to reporters after the sentencing, expressing the immeasurable pain caused by her daughter’s death. "Nothing will ever bring her back," Donaldson said. "We have an empty hole in my heart that will always be there."
Hernandez’s defense attorneys argued for a lighter sentence, suggesting 120 days in jail, claiming that Hernandez deeply regretted her actions and was filled with remorse and shame.
However, prosecutors pushed for a tougher penalty, leading to the 10-year sentence handed down this week. Hernandez’s conviction follows a series of legal actions, including a pardon issued by President Trump on January 20, during his second presidential term. The pardon covered those convicted for their roles in the Capitol riot, but Hernandez was not accused of violent actions against law enforcement during the insurrection. She had pleaded guilty to a federal charge of illegally entering a restricted building, which led to her brief 30-day sentence.
The case highlights a troubling connection between Hernandez’s actions during the Capitol riot and her later criminal behavior, raising questions about the responsibility of individuals who engage in such violent and reckless conduct.