Donald Trump pardons 63-year-old drug offender, after plea from Kim Kardashian West
Clemency granted to Alice Marie Johnson following intervention from reality TV star
Donald Trump has commuted the sentence of a 63-year-old woman who was serving a life sentence for non-violent drug offences.
Alice Marie Johnson was convicted on charges of conspiracy to possess cocaine and attempted possession of cocaine, and had already served 21 years before Trump intervened.
The pardon comes after reality TV star Kim Kardashian West visited the White House to speak directly to Trump about Johnson’s case last week, after contacting his daughter Ivanka to help set up the meeting.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Senior Trump advisers, including chief of staff John Kelly and White House counsel Donald McGahn, both expressed their disapproval of the decision to issue the pardon, with McGahn calling it “an unnecessary action by the president”.
The Washington Post reports that senior White House aides believe that Trump has become “fixated on his ability to issue pardons”, which they describe as his “new favourite thing”.
“The presidential pardon holds a special resonance for Trump, representing one area where he has almost unchecked power as other aspects of his presidency… remain outside his control,” The Post says.
CNN reports that the pardon is “the sixth act of clemency Trump has issued since taking office, and the second granted by Trump after a celebrity appealed to him”.
Boxer Jack Johnson was posthumously pardoned by Trump last month, after a lobbying effort by Hollywood actor Sylvester Stallone.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
How social media is limiting political content
The Explainer Meta's 'extraordinary move' to have less politics in users' feeds could be 'actively muzzling civic action'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
'Unthinkable tragedy'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Passenger: 'pleasingly off-kilter' ITV crime drama
The Week Recommends There's 'plenty to be feared' in this British murder mystery set in a quiet northern town
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'The House under GOP rule has become a hostile workplace'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Trump gets $289M break, first criminal trial date
Speed Read The former president's fraud bond has been reduced to $175 million from $464 million
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'A "conservative voice" does not spread misinformation for political advantage'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Barack Obama 'behind Starmer transformation'
Under The Radar The former US president urged Labour leader to 'talk more openly'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Trump-RNC pact puts Trump legal bills ahead of GOP
Speed Read The former president has struck a deal with the Republican National Committee to put donations toward his legal bills
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'A wonky bureaucratic tweak has dramatically changed how Americans drive'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
'Mississippi sheriffs wield a tremendous authority in the counties they police'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published