Alice Johnson who is a 63-year-old grandmother serving a life sentence in prison for a non-violent drug offense back in the 1990s, is finally set to be free. As reported by Axios, one week after Kim Kardashian West met with President Trump to discuss prison reform, he signed commutation for Alice Johnson’s sentence on Wednesday. This comes hours after CNN reported that the White House has prepared paperwork to pardon at least 30 people where the President feels the Justice Department has overstepped.
Johnson has served more than 20 years of her life sentence after she was convicted of conspiracy to possess cocaine and attempted possession of cocaine.
“Ms. Johnson has accepted responsibility for her past behavior and has been a model prisoner over the past two decades. Despite receiving a life sentence, Alice worked hard to rehabilitate herself in prison, and act as a mentor to her fellow inmates,” the White House said in a public statement.
Johnson’s commutation will be the sixth act of clemency Trump has issued since he has taken office, and the second issued after a celebrity appealed to him.
There is a major difference between commutation of a sentence and pardon, though. According to the Department of Justice website, a commutation reduces or eliminates a sentence, but it doesn’t imply innocence. A pardon though is “an expression of the Presidents forgiveness.” In Johnson’s case, her sentence was eliminated and she’ll be set free on Wednesday. Since she wasn’t pardoned, the US government still recognizes her as guilty and her conviction will remain on her record, Bustle reports.
Johnson sentence elimination has been a long time coming. According to Business Insider, she had previously petitioned President Barack Obama for commutation three times but was denied.
Kardashian-West celebrated on Twitter, writing “Best News Ever” and thanking Trump and senior advisor Jared Kushner.
BEST NEWS EVER!!!! ?????? https://t.co/JUbpbE1Bk0
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 6, 2018
So grateful to @realDonaldTrump, Jared Kushner & to everyone who has showed compassion & contributed countless hours to this important moment for Ms. Alice Marie Johnson. Her commutation is inspirational & gives hope to so many others who are also deserving of a second chance.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 6, 2018
She first took interest in Johnson’s case last October, when she saw a viral video by Mic where Johnson gave an interview via Skype, Business Insider reports.
BREAKING: President Trump has granted clemency to #AliceMarieJohnson after meeting with @KimKardashian West to talk about her case last week.
This is her story and the video that started it all: https://t.co/KzxNo3OsSg pic.twitter.com/LU2N05rIdC
— Mic (@mic) June 6, 2018
Johnson is expected to be released soon from from federal prison in Aliceville.