President Trump officially commuted Alice Johnson’s life sentence on Wednesday after Kim Kardashian West pressed the president to grant Johnson clemency during a White House visit last week.
Trump signed the commutation for Johnson, who is currently serving a life sentence for a nonviolent drug offense, after the White House prepared the paperwork for Johnson’s pardon earlier this morning.
“Today, President Donald J. Trump granted a commutation to Alice Marie Johnson, a 63-year-old great-grandmother who has served almost 22 years in Federal prison for a first-time criminal offense,” the White House said in a statement. “Despite receiving a life sentence, Alice worked hard to rehabilitate herself in prison, and act as a mentor to her fellow inmates.”
Kardashian West responded to the news on Twitter, saying it was the “best news ever.”
BEST NEWS EVER!!!! 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 https://t.co/JUbpbE1Bk0
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 6, 2018
White House adviser, and Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner had been in contact with Kardashian West the past few months, and had been pushing for a pardon for Johnson on her behalf.
“Johnson was convicted and sentenced to life without parole in 1996 for her role facilitating communications in a cocaine trafficking operation in Memphis, Tennessee,” Kardashian West told Kushner of Johnson’s crimes.
In a follow-up tweet, Kardashian West thanked both Trump and Kushner by name.
“So grateful to @realDonaldTrump, Jared Kushner & to everyone who has showed compassion & contributed countless hours to this important moment for Ms. Alice Marie Johnson. Her commutation is inspirational & gives hope to so many others who are also deserving of a second chance,” she said.
So grateful to @realDonaldTrump, Jared Kushner & to everyone who has showed compassion & contributed countless hours to this important moment for Ms. Alice Marie Johnson. Her commutation is inspirational & gives hope to so many others who are also deserving of a second chance.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 6, 2018
The White House said Johnson had accepted responsibility for her crimes and was a model prisoner.
“Her Warden, Case Manager, and Vocational Training Instructor have all written letters in support of her clemency,” the statement said.
“Justice has been served today, and it’s long overdue,” one of Johnson’s attorneys Brittany K. Barnett said in a statement. “President Trump saved Alice Johnson’s life today. We are extremely grateful and hope the President continues to use his clemency power to save lives.”
[Related: Trump considering ‘a number of different pardons and commutations,’ Sarah Sanders says]
