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oberliner

(58,724 posts) Thu Jun 7, 2018, 05:03 PM Jun 2018

Alice Johnson deserved a commutation. But the way Trump granted it is a disaster.

President Donald Trump’s commutation of Alice Johnson’s life sentence is the right thing to do. It’s also a flagrant example of the president using one of his few virtually unlimited powers to reward political allies and celebrity friends — and that should trouble even the most ardent supporters of Johnson’s commutation.

Johnson is a 63-year-old great-grandmother who received a life sentence in 1996 for her leading role in a cocaine trafficking ring. By all accounts, Johnson has successfully been rehabilitated, and sentencing a first-time, nonviolent offender for a drug crime is the kind of policy that has led the federal prison system to explode. Pardoning her was the right call.

But it’s worth examining how Trump ultimately decided to commute Johnson’s life sentence:

Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has been in talks with Kim Kardashian West about prison reform — an issue important to Kushner because his father went to prison — and Johnson’s potential pardon.
Kushner arranged a meeting between Trump and Kardashian at the White House.
Kardashian met with Trump.
Trump commuted Johnson’s life sentence.

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/6/6/17434760/trump-alice-johnson-pardon-kim-kardashian

4 replies

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Highlight:

Alice Johnson deserved a commutation. But the way Trump granted it is a disaster. (Original Post) oberliner Jun 2018 OP

I know nothing about the Johnson case so I can't comment personally on her. Tommy_Carcetti Jun 2018 #1

Non-violent drug offenders deserve mercy. oberliner Jun 2018 #2

But most do not have some connection to celebrities. I guess those folks are out of luck, Tipperary Jun 2018 #3

Agreed oberliner Jun 2018 #4

Tommy_Carcetti

(43,182 posts)

1. I know nothing about the Johnson case so I can't comment personally on her.

Reply to oberliner (Original post)

Thu Jun 7, 2018, 05:06 PM

Jun 2018

I do know the only reason he granted it was because Kim Kardashian asked for it. I'm sure there are many other people in Johnson's position who will continue to serve out their full sentences on account they don't have a famous celebrity to vouch for them.

I also know that if you want to convey a sense to others that you are correcting an injustice, "Good luck to Alice Johnson. Have a wonderful life!" is a very awkward way to put it. But what more can we expect from Mr. "Best Words"?