Trump defends freeing Alice Johnson, calls her 22-year sentence ‘ridiculous’
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump spoke about his decision to grant clemency to Alice Johnson, a criminal justice reform advocate, calling her sentence “ridiculous.”
Johnson had been jailed in 1996 for a non-violent drug charge and served 22 years in prison before being released. Her case gained national attention when Kim Kardashian West lobbied on her behalf, meeting with Trump to advocate for her release.
Reflecting on the situation, Trump described the severity of her sentence as unfair, highlighting that it was disproportionate to the non-violent nature of her offense.
Trump’s remarks on Alice Johnson sentence and clemency decision
During remarks about Johnson, Trump addressed her directly, “Alice? Where's Alice? What a sweetheart. I met Alice and she was incarcerated for what some people would say today is not even a fine. Right, Alice? It's not even a fine."
He continued, "And I said, how long has she been in jail? Twenty-two years. I said, twenty-two years.” Trump recounted that Johnson had faced a potential 50 year sentence for what he described as a relatively minor mistake.
He stated, “I said, and I mean, she admitted, she made a little mistake, but it was not the kind of a mistake that you serve fifty years in jail for. Like, maybe a couple of months, maybe less than that. And I said, this is the most unfair. And then when I met her, I fell in love.”
Trump further addressed the process leading to her release, “It was so ridiculous. And I said, let's get her the hell out. And we got her out. We did a commute."
He also commented on Johnson's her character and story, "And then when I got to know her, she was so high quality. I said, full pardon. So she's cleaner than anybody in this room, even than my friend right here."
After her release in 2018, the White House said Johnson had been a model prisoner and had worked hard to rehabilitate herself. In a social media post, Kardashian West also praised Trump, writing, "BEST NEWS EVER!!!!" along with a link to an article about the commutation.
Alice Johnson praises Trump’s clemency and reform
Johnson expressed her gratitude, highlighting the mutual respect between her and Trump. She said, “Thank you, Mr. President. The feeling was mutual. I fell in love with this man, with his heart, with his heart for this country, with his heart to really bring America back to the form of greatness that it deserved. And that's exactly what he has done.”
Johnson reflected on her journey from prison to the White House, emphasizing the uniqueness of her story, “This president right here, President Donald Trump, brought me from the prison pit to the White House. Only in America could there be a story like my story."
She continued, "And President Trump is the only president who would have had the courage, the courage to bring someone like me, someone who received a second chance. But who knows more than someone who has been in captivity themselves."
She further expressed her commitment to helping others, “I did not get comfortable in my own freedom, but I went back, as Harriet Tubman said she did. She went back to draw many others into freedom. And President Trump has listened to those recommendations."
Johnson added, "There's so much more to come. Because when you see me, you see a miracle. You see hope. You see second chances. And you see someone who is willing to roll up their sleeves and do the work, do the hard work to help individuals gain their freedom.”
Johnson also acknowledged Trump’s broader impact on criminal justice reform, “President Trump did something historic in his first term. He signed the First Step Act into law. And for that, over, over 40,000, and that number is low, over 40,000 individuals have come home to their families early.”
