As a president known for governing on whims and holding mercurial beliefs, few of President Trump’s policies are as loaded with contradictions as criminal justice. Trump, whose “tough on crime” stances include aggressive use of the death penalty and expanding “stop and frisk” tactics, signed the bipartisan First Step Act, which eased sentences. Trump drew plaudits from advocates for prisoners and criminal defendants for his appointing Alice Marie Johnson as "pardon czar." Johnson has remained in contact with Trump since he commuted her life sentence for federal drug and money laundering charges in 2018, granting her a full pardon two years later, reports the Washington Post. She was featured in a 2020 Trump Super Bowl ad touting his support of second chances for those with criminal convictions. That same year, Johnson submitted more than 100 clemency petitions to Trump, she told hometown news channel Action 5 News in Memphis.
Now 69, Johnson has worked as an advocate for other prisoners since her release and founded the Memphis-based nonprofit Taking Action for Good, which advocates for clemency and compassionate release on prisoners’ behalf. Civil rights and harm reduction advocates said Johnson is a welcome choice given her experience doing on-the-ground advocacy as someone who spent nearly 22 years in prison on a first-time offense. “We definitely see this as an exciting opportunity to see someone with lived experience shaping criminal-justice-reform policy,” said Daniel Landsman of Families Against Mandatory Minimums. Landsman said that years ago, someone with Johnson’s background would have been an unlikely choice for such a role. He said Trump’s elevation of someone who has experienced the prison system is “a very good sign” that there is potential for more criminal justice reform during this administration. At the same time, Landsman said the administration’s full position on that issue is “still taking shape.” Lisa Monet Wayne of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers similarly lauded Johnson’s selection, noting the group recognized Johnson in 2020 with its Champion of Justice Community Advocacy Award.