Seeking Compassion from the Administration? Grab A Celeb!

Last week President Trump commuted the sentence of a 63 year old woman who has been imprisoned for over twenty years, having been given a life sentence for drug trafficking.  Alice Johnson had been convicted in 1996 for conspiracy to possess cocaine and for attempted possession of cocaine.   Her crimes were non-violent but her sentence was considered by many to be disproportional to the offenses.  Ms. Johnson became involved with drug trafficking during a desperate time in her life.  She had lost her job, was divorced and experienced the death of her son.  

Advocates have been working hard for years to secure Ms. Johnson's release from an Alabama prison.  How was Ms. Johnson able to obtain success?  Kim Kardashian took up her cause after reading a tweet about the case.  Ms. Kardashian began advocating for Ms. Johnson, first by contacting Ivanka Trump and then Jared Kushner.  Finally, Ms. Kardashian secured a meeting with President Trump.  Ms. Johnson had been denied commutation under the Obama administration.  President Trump noted that Ms. Johnson was a model prisoner and executed the documents necessary to release the great-grandmother.

At the urging of Sylvester Stallone, President Trump earlier issued a full pardon for now deceased heavy weight champion John "Jack" Jackson.

Other pardons were less well received publicly, but involved the famous or notorious.   Dinesh D'Souza and Lewis "Scooter" Libby are among those who received Trump presidential pardons.  So be a celeb or find yourself one should you seek a presidential pardon during this administration.