Kim Kardashian Discusses What Happened During Her White House Meeting With Donald Trump
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Kim Kardashian revealed a few details about her White House meeting with Donald Trump on Wednesday, telling Mic that she felt the president “spent the time to listen” as she made her case for why Alice Johnson, a 63-year-old grandmother sentenced to life without parole, deserves to be pardoned.
“I think that he really spent the time to listen to our case that we’re making for Alice,” she said. “He really understood, and I am very hopeful that this will turn out really positively I hope.”
Kardashian sat down with Trump in the Oval Office, following reports that she had been organizing a meeting with him for weeks through Jared Kushner. Kardashian reportedly wanted to discuss prison reform, and in particular the case of Johnson, who she has been advocating for since coming across her story on a Mic video about Johnson’s prison sentence, handed down after a non-violent, first time drug offense 21 years prior.
She attended Wednesday’s meeting with her attorney Shawn Chapman Holley, who outlined Johnson’s case.
Trump tweeted about the meeting, saying, “Great meeting with @KimKardashian today, talked about prison reform and sentencing.” Following their Wednesday meeting, the president did announce a pardon—this time for conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza, who was convicted of campaign finance violations. Trump also signaled he might extend clemency to former Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich of Illinois and Martha Stewart, but has not made his plans for Johnson clear.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1001961235838103552
Johnson has been the subject of much publicity after her story went viral. She was imprisoned for drug conspiracy and money laundering and, to the consternation of many, is not eligible for parole. Kardashian told Mic she feels Johnson has rehabilitated herself and has a lot waiting for her outside of prison, were she to be pardoned.
“I just feel really strongly that she has such a good support system,” she said. “She has a job waiting for her, she has a home to go to, and she has such a great, supportive family. Even seeing the work that she’s done while she’s in prison, knowing that she would never get out. She hasn’t had one disciplinary infraction since she’s been in prison in 21 and a half years.”
Kardashian’s trip to Washington was met with criticism on social media as many wondered if she was the best person to discuss prison reform. Kardashian said that while she didn’t have personal experience with the topic, she felt a “simple connection” to Johnson and would continue to fight to give her a “second chance at life.”
“If it takes me to go and talk to the highest person in power, the only person that can make this happen, which is President Trump, then I will definitely do that,” she said.