Reality TV Star Kim Kardashian met US President Donald Trump and other officials at the White House on Wednesday to discuss a prison reform. Kim personally wanted to discuss a potential pardon for 63-year-old Alice Marie Johnson who has been behind the bars for more than two-decades for a first-time drug offence. Johnson was sentenced to life in prison without parole in 1996 for a first-time, non-violent drug offence.

Kim has also been in touch past few months to senior advisor and Mr Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner to discuss the case. Johnson’s story first caught Kim’s eye after she saw a short video about the case posted on social media. Kim then asked her personal lawyer Shawn Holley to look at the case and is paying for a new legal team for Johnson. According to Johnson’s daughters, the process has sped up considerably since Kim’s involvement. Kim tweeted a birthday wish for Johnson on Wednesday.

Kim’s Birthday Tweet for Alice Marie Johnson

Mr. Trump’s Tweet Following His Meet with Kim Kardashian

Prison reform has been a key issue for Kushner. Earlier this month, the White House-backed First Step Act which would expand programmes for prisoners and allow for more home confinement was approved by the House Judiciary. It is unknown exactly what was discussed during the meeting but after Kim tweeted her thanks to the president and said she hoped Johnson would be freed.

Kim’s Tweet Thanking Donald Trump

An online petition to grant clemency to Johnson, started by daughter, currently has more than 250,000 signatures. Kardashian West had supported Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016 presidential election, but her rapper husband Kanye West has signalled his support for Trump. Kanye has drawn criticism for his support of the president and was last month was pictured wearing a cap bearing the slogan ‘Make America Great Again’, a phrase associated with Trump.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 31, 2018 02:35 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).