Kim Kardashian West has been keeping up with the case of Alice Marie Johnson — a first-time nonviolent drug offender serving life behind bars — and thanks in part to the reality star’s advocacy, President Donald Trump commuted Johnson’s sentence on Wednesday (June 6).
The news comes just one week after Trump and Kardashian met in the Oval Office to discuss prison reform and sentencing.
“Ms. Johnson has accepted responsibility for her past behavior and has been a model prisoner over the past two decades,” a White House statement reads. “Despite receiving a life sentence, Alice worked hard to rehabilitate herself in prison, and act as a mentor to her fellow inmates.”
Johnson, a 63-year-old great-grandmother, was given a life sentence without parole in 1996 “on charges of conspiracy to possess cocaine and attempted possession of cocaine,” according to the nonprofit foundation CAN-DO, which stands for “Clemency for All Non-violence Drug Offenders.” Now, more than two decades later, Johnson is expected to be released from federal prison in Aliceville, Alabama, soon.
BEST NEWS EVER!!!! ———— https://t.co/JUbpbE1Bk0
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 6, 2018
The phone call I just had with Alice will forever be one of my best memories. Telling her for the first time and hearing her screams while crying together is a moment I will never forget.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 6, 2018
Kardashian West shared the good news via Twitter, writing, “BEST NEWS EVER!!!!” and linking to a story on Mic, where she first learned about Johnson’s case in October from an opinion video shared on the media company’s Facebook page. She also shared a tweet detailing the phone conversation she had with Johnson, who first heard about the news from the Aliceville Federal Correctional Institution.
Kardashian’s campaign for Johnson lasted months, including discussions with the president’s son-in-law and adviser Jared Kushner and culminating in her White House meeting last week. The reality TV celebrity tweeted the day of their meeting that she was “optimistic about Ms. Johnson’s future.”
Great meeting with @KimKardashian today, talked about prison reform and sentencing. pic.twitter.com/uOy4UJ41JF
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 30, 2018
We are optimistic about Ms. Johnson’s future and hopeful that she —and so many like her—will get a second chance at life.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) May 31, 2018
On Wednesday, she tweeted to thank the president, Kushner and everyone who has supported her mission to free Johnson.
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
Johnson penned an essay for CNN last month, noting “the unlikely voices of Kim Kardashian West and Jared Kushner came together to shine a spotlight on my case, I could only thank God, for he works in mysterious ways.”
Kardashian tweeted that she wants to continue working with organizations that “deserve the recognition.”
I hope to continue this important work by working together with organizations who have been fighting this fight for much longer than I have and deserve the recognition.
— Kim Kardashian West (@KimKardashian) June 6, 2018