Kim Kardashian appeals to Joe Biden to focus on clemency before leaving office

WASHINGTON, DC: Kim Kardashian is making a high-stakes appeal to President Joe Biden, urging him to “make clemency a significant part of his legacy” before his term ends.

In a fervent push for justice, the reality star and criminal justice reform advocate has highlighted the need for action, sharing her recent meeting with US Pardon Attorney Elizabeth Oyer and calling on Biden to seize this crucial moment to effect meaningful change.

“We talked about some of the many men and women who have taken accountability for their crimes, worked hard to turn their lives around, and are ready to come home from our prisons and be with their families,” Kardashian, 43, penned on X on Monday, August 28.

Kim Kardashian's relation with Joe Biden and Kamala Harris amid clemency push

The Justice Department confirmed the meeting, noting that Elizabeth Oyer “regularly meets with stakeholders and clemency advocates as part of the office’s public engagement work.” In a push to spotlight urgent cases, the 'Skims' founder announced, “Starting this week, I will be highlighting some of their important cases on my stories. I hope President Biden takes the opportunity to make clemency a significant part of his legacy before he leaves office."

Earlier this year, Kardashian joined Vice President Kamala Harris for a roundtable on criminal justice reform in April, focusing on the administration’s efforts and Biden’s use of clemency powers. In October 2022, the president announced pardons for thousands convicted of simple marijuana possession under federal law. 

Kim Kardashian's pursuit of justice alongside Donald Trump

Kim Kardashian's commitment to criminal justice reform isn’t new. During the Donald Trump administration, the reality star frequently visited the White House, collaborating with Jared Kushner, the then-president’s son-in-law, who was focused on criminal justice reform. She used her celebrity status to advocate for clemency and support individuals she believed were unfairly imprisoned.

In 2018, she successfully lobbied the former president to commute the sentence of Alice Marie Johnson, a Black woman who had served 20 years of a life sentence for a nonviolent drug offense. Kardashian's advocacy included a meeting with Trump in the Oval Office, which resulted in Johnson’s release in June 2018. She later received a full pardon from Trump in August 2020, restoring her rights.

Trump-Kardashian ties strained

Recently, the previously strong bond between Donald Trump and Kim Kardashian seems to have deteriorated. Last November, Trump criticized Kardashian as the “World’s most overrated celebrity” in a post on his social media site, citing anecdotes from a new book by ABC News journalist Jonathan Karl, per AP.

Reflecting on this shift, Kardashian told late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel earlier this week, “I don’t think he likes me very much. But I’m OK. I think he did amazing stuff with prison reform and let a lot of people out, and signed an amazing bill — the First Step Act — and so that’s what I’ll focus on.”