Trump selects Alice Johnson, the woman he previously pardoned, as ‘pardon czar’

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Karah Rucker Anchor

By Karah Rucker (Anchor), Kalé Carey (Reporter), Jake Larsen (Video Editor)

Formerly incarcerated Alice Johnson has been appointed by President Donald Trump to serve as his “pardon czar.” Johnson’s new role will have her advise on pardon recommendations for the president.
Johnson was convicted of leading a multi-million-dollar drug ring and spent 21 years in prison.
Her sentence was commuted in 2018, and she was later granted a full pardon by Trump.

Full Story

Alice Johnson, a woman who spent more than two decades in federal prison before being pardoned by President Donald Trump during his first term, has been appointed to a new role known as “pardon czar.” In her new position, Johnson will use her personal experience with the justice system to advise the president on recommendations for pardons and commutations.

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At the White House’s Black History Month event, Trump made the announcement as Johnson listened from the crowd.

“We’re going to be listening to your recommendation on pardons,” Trump said, signaling her new role in shaping decisions about criminal justice reform.

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A second chance at life

Johnson, 69, was convicted of leading a multi-million-dollar drug ring and sentenced to life in prison. After serving 21 years, she was granted a second chance at life in 2018 when her sentence was commuted.

Reality star Kim Kardashian played a key role in bringing attention to Johnson’s case. She met with President Trump to advocate for reform in America’s prisons and pushing for Johnson’s release.

After Trump commuted Johnson’s sentence, he later granted her a full pardon in 2020.

Advocating for criminal justice reform

Following her release, Johnson became a criminal justice advocate, using her story to help others who are in similar situations. Trump had hinted at leveraging Johnson’s experience to benefit others who have paid their debt to society during his first term.

In the months after her release, Trump signed the First Step Act into law. The legislation aimed to reduce recidivism and allow inmates to earn time credits toward reducing their sentence.

The president’s power to grant pardons and commutations is enshrined in the Constitution. The document grants presidents the authority to forgive crimes people have committed. Known as the “pardon power,” it has been used by presidents throughout U.S. history to offer second chances to individuals who have shown remorse and worked to better themselves.

Tags: Crime, Donald Trump, Drugs, Kim Kardashian, Pardon, Prison, White House

[Karah Rucker]

ALICE JOHNSON, A WOMAN WHO SPENT MORE THAN TWO DECADES BEHIND BARS BEFORE RECEIVING A PARDON FROM PRESIDENT TRUMP IS NOW BRINGING HER EXPERIENCE IN FEDERAL PRISON TO THE WHITE HOUSE IN A NEW ROLE KNOWN AS ‘PARDON CZAR’.

(TRUMP: “We’re going to be listening to your recommendation on pardons.”)

TRUMP MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT AT THE WHITE HOUSE DURING THE BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENT, WITH JOHNSON LISTENING FROM THE CROWD

(TRUMP: “You’re going to find people just like you that, this should not have happened, it should not have happened. “)

THE 69-YEAR-OLD SPENT 21 YEARS IN PRISON AFTER BEING CONVICTED OF LEADING A MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR DRUG RING, BUT IN 2018, SHE WAS GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE.

REALITY STAR KIM KARDASHIAN DREW NATIONAL ATTENTION TO JOHNSON’S CASE, MEETING WITH TRUMP DURING HIS FIRST TERM TO ADVOCATE FOR REFORM IN AMERICA’S PRISONS AND PUSHING FOR HER RELEASE.

TRUMP COMMUTED HER LIFE SENTENCE AND LATER GRANTED HER A FULL PARDON FROM THE OVAL OFFICE IN 2020.

(TRUMP: “That’s the ultimate thing that can happen that means you can do whatever you want in life.” )

JOHNSON THEN BECAME A CRIMINAL JUSTICE ADVOCATE, USING HER STORY TO HELP OTHERS.

DURING HIS FIRST TERM, TRUMP HINTED AT USING JOHNSON’S EXPERIENCE TO HELP OTHERS IN SIMILAR SITUATIONS WHO HAVE PAID THEIR DEBT TO SOCIETY.

IN THE MONTHS FOLLOWING HER RELEASE, TRUMP SIGNED THE FIRST STEP ACT INTO LAW, A MEASURE DESIGNED TO REDUCE RECIDIVISM AND ALLOW INMATES TO EARN TIME CREDITS TOWARD REDUCING THEIR SENTENCE.

THE CONSTITUTION GRANTS PRESIDENTS THE AUTHORITY TO FORGIVE CRIMES PEOPLE COMMITTED, AN ACT KNOWN AS THE PARDON POWER.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M KARAH RUCKER.

Bias Summary

Alice Marie Johnson is being considered for the role of "pardon czar" by Donald Trump after her life sentence was commuted in 2018, with support from Kim Kardashian as noted by the New York Times.
Trump announced Johnson's potential appointment at a Black History Month event, asking her to advise on pardons and highlighting her previous case for clemency.
Johnson's appointment is not yet finalized, and Trump's plans may change, according to sources familiar with the discussions reported by the New York Times.
Critics have raised concerns about Trump's actions against diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, which they argue help address historical inequities.

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Bias Comparison

Media outlets on the left emphasize Alice Johnson’s authoritative role as ‘pardon czar’ at a Black History Month event, enhancing her profile in the justice system.

Media outlets in the center highlight concerns over Trump’s broader agenda on diversity, framing Johnson’s role amid potential criticisms of his policies.

Media outlets on the right focus on Johnson’s advocacy for criminal justice reform post-incarceration, presenting her more as a champion of reform.

Report an issue with this comparison