President Donald Trump's newly appointed pardon czar, Alice Marie Johnson, embarks on a mission to identify and assist non-violent offenders trapped in what she describes as a corrupt system.
According to Fox News, Johnson, who received both a commutation and full pardon from Trump after serving 21 years in prison, now works within the administration to evaluate potential pardon candidates and advocate for criminal justice reform.
Johnson's appointment represents a remarkable transformation from her past life, where she faced a life sentence without parole for her involvement in a Memphis cocaine trafficking operation. Despite claiming she never directly handled drugs, she admitted to facilitating communications between dealers following personal hardships, including her son's death, financial difficulties, and a divorce.
In an interview with Lara Trump on "My View," Johnson expressed her disbelief at the dramatic turn her life has taken. She emphasized the importance of her unique perspective, having experienced the justice system firsthand.
Johnson shared her vision for the role with host Lara Trump, explaining that while she cannot help everyone, she intends to maximize her impact. She plans to focus on identifying deserving candidates while simultaneously pushing for systemic changes.
The former inmate expressed that her personal experience makes her uniquely qualified for this position. She understands the challenges faced by those seeking pardons and the complexities of navigating the justice system.
Johnson spoke candidly about her observations of the criminal justice system's failures during her interview:
There are laws that have to be changed because, even in my position, I'm not going to be able to find everyone. I am going to find as many as I possibly can find, but I'm also going to be advocating [for change] and looking at the things that are out there, on the books, that need to be changed, but to also do what the president has entrusted me to do, and let's find those individuals who need their second chance, those individuals who had lost hope in a system that was totally corrupt.
Her assessment of the current system highlights deep-rooted issues that extend beyond individual cases. Johnson emphasized that wealth alone cannot protect individuals from systemic corruption.
The new pardon czar plans to implement a comprehensive approach to evaluating candidates. This includes assessing their readiness to reintegrate into society and their potential for positive community impact.
Johnson's approach focuses on identifying individuals who have demonstrated genuine reform during their incarceration. She believes in thorough evaluation of each case to ensure pardons are granted appropriately.
The position allows her to leverage her unique perspective as both a former inmate and now a government official. This dual experience informs her understanding of both the system's flaws and potential solutions.
Her role extends beyond simply identifying pardon candidates to include advocacy for broader systemic reforms. Johnson sees this as an opportunity to address fundamental issues within the criminal justice system.
Trump's selection of Johnson as pardon czar reflects a commitment to criminal justice reform that incorporates lived experience. Her appointment marks a significant shift in how pardons and commutations are evaluated and granted.
Alice Marie Johnson's journey from serving a life sentence in an Alabama prison to leading White House efforts for criminal justice reform spans seven years. In her new role as pardon czar, she combines her personal experience with a mission to identify deserving candidates for presidential pardons while advocating for systemic changes to address what she describes as a corrupt system.
Her work focuses on non-violent offenders who have demonstrated rehabilitation and are prepared to reintegrate into their communities.
