Kim Kardashian West has met President Donald Trump to discuss a potential pardon for a 63-year-old great-grandmother who is serving life in prison.
Alice Marie Johnson has been behind bars for more than two decades for a first-time drug offence.
Mr Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner has also been speaking with Mrs Kardashian West about the case for months.
President Trump tweeted that they had a “great meeting”.
Great meeting with @KimKardashian today, talked about prison reform and sentencing. pic.twitter.com/uOy4UJ41JF
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2018
Why is Kim Kardashian involved in the case?
Johnson’s story first caught the reality television star’s eye after she saw a short video about the case posted on social media.
This is so unfair… https://t.co/W3lPINbQuy
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) October 26, 2017
Mrs Kardashian West was moved to ask her longtime personal lawyer, Shawn Holley, to take a look at the case and is paying for a new legal team for Johnson.
Alice Marie Johnson has been in prison for 21 years for a first-time, nonviolent drug offense. pic.twitter.com/VFe29D2ve8
— Mic (@mic) October 23, 2017
The reality television star was also able to join forces with Mr Kushner, a senior adviser to the president who has been pushing for federal prison reform.
Mr Kushner’s First Step Act, which allots $50m (£38m) for rehabilitative programmes for inmates, passed in the US House of Representatives last week.
According to Johnson’s daughters, the process has sped up considerably since Mrs Kardashian West’s involvement.
Wednesday is also Johnson’s birthday, which Mrs Kardashian West noted in a tweet this morning.
Happy Birthday Alice Marie Johnson. Today is for you 🙏🏼✨
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) May 30, 2018
On the meeting with Mr Trump, Mrs Kardashian West said she was hopeful Johnson would get a “second chance at life”.
I would like to thank President Trump for his time this afternoon. It is our hope that the President will grant clemency to Ms. Alice Marie Johnson who is serving a life sentence for a first-time, non-violent drug offense.
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) May 31, 2018
We are optimistic about Ms. Johnson’s future and hopeful that she —and so many like her—will get a second chance at life.
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) May 31, 2018
Read more at BBC.
