Kim Kardashian had sharp response to warnings Trump White House visit would end her career: book
Kim Kardashian said she went ahead with a 2018 White House meeting to seek clemency for Alice Marie Johnson, despite warnings that meeting Donald Trump could damage her career. The book says Kardashian saw Johnson’s plea for clemency in 2017 and decided the chance to help her mattered more than the reputational risks.
Kardashian contacted lawyer Shawn Holley and then Ivanka Trump, who connected her with Jared Kushner, who helped arrange the meeting. A week after speaking with Trump, Kardashian called Johnson to tell her she had been granted clemency after 22 years in prison. The book also describes Kardashian’s later advocacy for a man serving a life sentence for a non-violent crime, and Van Jones praised her command of the case and ability to make a persuasive case to the president.
In short
- Kardashian risked criticism to seek clemency for Alice Marie Johnson.
- Johnson was released after 22 years in prison.
- The book also details Kardashian’s further prison reform advocacy.
Explained simply
Clemency is a decision by a president or other authority to reduce a person’s sentence or release them early. It can be granted for reasons including concerns about fairness or a person’s circumstances, and is different from a court overturning a conviction.
Alice Marie Johnson was serving a life sentence for a non-violent drug offence when her case came to public attention. Kim Kardashian, a television personality and businesswoman, became involved in efforts to secure her release; lawyer Shawn Holley and presidential adviser Jared Kushner were among the people involved in arranging a meeting with Donald Trump, then US president.
The case drew attention to the role public figures can play in bringing individual clemency petitions to political leaders. It also raised questions about how decisions to reduce sentences are made and who is able to attract attention to a case.