Prison Reform
Trump commutes the life sentence of Alice Johnson, heeding Kim Kardashian West's advice
President Trump has commuted the sentence of Alice Johnson, a first-time, nonviolent drug offender who was given a life sentence in 1996, Axios reported Wednesday.
Reality star Kim Kardashian West got involved in Johnson's case, visiting the White House to meet with senior adviser Jared Kushner to advocate on Johnson's behalf. Kardashian West also visited Trump in the Oval Office to alert him of Johnson's disproportionate sentence and to discuss prison reform.
Johnson, 63, gained widespread attention and sympathy after a Mic video recounted her story. Johnson was convicted of facilitating communications in a drug trafficking case, getting a life sentence without opportunity for parole — a severe sentence that criminal justice reform advocates say exemplifies a need for change. Kardashian West called the case "unfair" in October, and sent a team of lawyers to work on freeing Johnson soon afterwards.
Johnson received clemency from Trump, but not a full pardon. She will be released from prison, but her conviction still stands. Read more at Axios.