Scoop: Trump has commuted Alice Johnson's life sentence

[demmiblue]

Source: Axios

President Trump has signed a commutation for Alice Johnson, currently serving a life sentence for a nonviolent drug offense, according to a source with direct knowledge. The Washington Post first reported last night that he had been considering pardoning Johnson.

The details: Johnson's cause was championed last week at the White House by Kim Kardashian West. White House senior adviser Jared Kushner, who pushed for Johnson's pardon, had been in contact with Kardashian West over the past several months on the issue. Per a source familiar, White House counsel Don McGahn is skeptical of the merits of pardoning Johnson.

The big picture: This is part of a broader effort led by Jared Kushner to highlight the issue of prison reform — particularly focused on nonviolent offenders.

More about Johnson's crime, per Mic, who first reported on Kardashian West's conversations with Kushner: “Johnson was convicted and sentenced to life without parole in 1996 for her role facilitating communications in a cocaine trafficking operation in Memphis, Tennessee.”

Read more: https://www.axios.com/trump-pardon-alice-johnson-kim-kardashian-west-4a55e199-791c-41fc-9c88-fb0118aa814c.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=twsocialshare&utm_campaign=organic

[fleur-de-lisa]

1. "I don't suppose somebody could tell Kim Kardashian about Puerto Rico?"

Shower Cap @CapShower

I don't suppose somebody could tell Kim Kardashian about Puerto Rico?


11:26 AM - Jun 6, 2018

Link to tweet

[SunSeeker]

2. Great tweet by Shower Cap!

[hlthe2b]

3. I believe she received a commutation, not a pardon... There is a signficant difference..

Never mind.. I see it has been corrected.

[Arkansas Granny]

4. I'm glad to hear this, but it doesn't change my opinion of Trump.

[forgotmylogin]

8. No pardon though.

W commuted Scooter Libby's sentence.

In hindsight, I wonder if that was to prevent him from testifying further by keeping the 5th Amendment privilege intact as would happen with a pardon.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. WaPo breaking

Trump has commuted the life sentence for Alice Marie Johnson, a woman whose case was championed by Kim Kardashian

by Washington Post Staff June 6 at 12:48 PM

Johnson, 63, was convicted in 1996 and sentenced to life in prison on drug possession and money laundering charges.

President Trump’s acts of clemency so far have been scattershot, driven by television segments, celebrities, friends and White House advisers who have pressed their cases for pardons that include controversial Sheriff Joe Arpaio, conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza and Lewis “Scooter” Libby, former chief of staff to Vice President Richard B. Cheney.

This is a developing story. It will be updated.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/06/06/trump-has-commuted-the-life-sentence-for-alice-marie-johnson-a-woman-whose-case-was-championed-by-kim-kardashian/?utm_term=.e3ea99c77ec3

[Vinca]

6. A total fluke. People unjustly sentenced as this lady was need to become BFFs of

Trumphumping celebrities. Nice photo op = pardon or commutation.

[Hortensis]

7. Prison for money laundering probably hit home.

Seriously, I don't want him looking as if he's concerned with justice and prison reform (as if Kushner is!)

. We know he's blind to justice and any decency to this only be incidental to a PR stunt. It could also be another signal to his criminal associates that he'll pardon them.