Posted on 08/28/2020 11:42:52 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
President Donald Trump gave Alice Johnson, the former inmate who reality TV star Kim Kardashian push to have released, a full pardon in the Oval Office Friday afternoon.
Johnson had delivered an address Thursday night before the Republican National Convention from Washington, D.C., and so was seated with Trump at the White House when reporters came in.
That's when Trump surprised her with a full pardon, as he had only commuted her sentence in June of 2018.
'We're giving Alice a full pardon. I just told her. We didn't even discuss it,' Trump said. 'You were out there sitting in the audience last night and I asked the folks if you could bring Alice over and we're going to give a full pardon and we're going to do it right now.'
Seated next to the Resolute Desk, Johnson wiped away tears.
'That means you have been fully pardoned, that's the ultimate thing that can happen, that means you can do whatever you want in life,' Trump continued. 'Just keep doing the great job you're doing.'
Johnson has been a criminal justice reform advocate and spoke of redeption at Thursday night's RNC.
'When President Trump heard about me - about the injustice of my story - he saw me as a person. He had compassion. And he acted,' Johnson said.
Johnson had been convicted in 1996 for involvement in a Memphis cocaine trafficking scheme, which came with a life sentence, seen by Kardashian and other criminal justice reform advocates as much too tough for a non-violent offender.
Kardashian first came to the White House in May 2018 to tell Trump Johnson's story. White House adviser and presidential son-in-law Jared Kushner was on board.
The president commuted Johnson's sentence on June 6.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
I saw it and it was beautiful, was wiping away tears as well
Such good news. So happy for her and her family.
I was crying too in between lines.
Just kidding :-) at my weight one line up the nose would equal six feet under the ground!
The UK giving us our important news, yet again.
I think just about everyone views a life sentence for minor drug trafficking is extremely harsh and maybe even cruel and unusual. Good to see the president righting this injustice and in the coming days, weeks and years will bring about further consideration for those convicted of minor drug trafficking charges.
There are killers who don’t do 22 years.
A full pardon? Nope. Im not on board with this one. Not at all. Drug dealers ruin lives. And Johnson wasnt just selling blunts to senior citizens on the street corner. She was a leader in a multi-million dollar cocaine ring.
From Wikipedia:
At the sentencing hearing, U.S. District Judge Julia Gibbons said that Johnson was “the quintessential entrepreneur” in an operation that dealt in 2,000 to 3,000 kilograms of cocaine, with a “very significant” impact on the community.
Before the fireworks were over last night, the putrid Leftist Democrat media had already labeled her, and the other black speakers, “props”. I truly, truly hate those people with every fiber of my being.
Commutation, yes. Full pardon, no. This looks like pandering or a payoff for her speech. But who am I to question Trump’s judgement. He’s the POTUS, not me.
It’s called doubling-down.
She deserves a full pardon she has completely turned her life around AND spent 22 years in prison for a DRUG charge REALLY!!
You know that Trump isn’t a typical Republican, right?
I agree, the commutation was enough.
I would suspect there are thousands of felons petitioning the WH for the same treatment.
Good for her. She was pretty impressive during the convention.
Hmmm...
How many communists were President since her conviction?
Klintoon, obunghole?
How could two (2) negro presidents not do something for this woman?
With the full commutation she is now eligible to vote.
See how that works? Part of a Trump black voter registration drive.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.