Kim Kardashian is set to join Vice President Harris at the White House on Thursday for a discussion about reforming the criminal justice system, which will showcase President Biden’s use of his power to forgive.
A White House official stated that Kardashian, a reality TV star who has increasingly spoken out in support of reforming the criminal justice system in recent years, will take part in the conversation with Harris, people who have received pardons, and Steve Benjamin, the director of the White House Office of Public Engagement.
Kardashian was closely involved with the Trump administration in the case of Alice Johnson, a Black woman who had been given a life sentence for a non-violent drug offense and had her sentence commuted by then-President Trump.
The discussion is happening one day after Biden granted clemency to 16 individuals who were convicted of non-violent drug offenses. Four of those individuals will be present at Thursday’s event.
As part of the discussion, Harris will announce the finalization of a Small Business Administration regulation to eliminate restrictions on loan eligibility based on an individual’s criminal record.
Biden has pardoned numerous individuals for non-violent drug offenses, citing the actions as part of a broader effort to address racial inequalities and to give deserving Americans a second opportunity. In October 2022, he announced pardons for thousands of individuals who had been convicted of simple marijuana possession under federal law.
Harris last month led a discussion focused on marijuana reform, where she was joined by rapper Fat Joe and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D).
