A woman whose drug crime sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump has now been given a full pardon; Dr. Robert Jeffress uses Pardon of Alice Johnson to share the good news of God’s Eternal pardon of sin through Jesus Christ.
Alice Johnson joined the President at the White House this afternoon for a brief ceremony.
Johnson is a Tennessee grandmother convicted on felony drug and money laundering charges in 1996. After 22 years in prison, she was released in June 2018 when Kim Kardashian West asked Trump to grant her clemency.
She also spoke during Thursday night’s closing session of the Republican National Convention. She told the crowd she “hollered hallelujah” after Trump signed the First Step Act, which she said, “brought joy, hope and freedom to thousands of well-deserving people.” Johnson said she is free “by the grace of God and the compassion of President Donald John Trump.”
Trump said at the White House Friday that Johnson had done an “incredible job” since her release, identifying additional prisoners who also could be eligible for early release.
“We’re very proud of Alice and the job you’ve done and what you represent,” Trump said.
Johnson was clearly emotional when Trump handed her the pardon document. She clutched it close, then bowed her head during a prayer.
Trump has sought to highlight criminal justice reform leading up to November’s election as he reaches out to African American voters. He signed into law a bill in 2018 that gave judges more discretion when sentencing some drug offenders and enhanced employment and training opportunities for many federal prisoners.
During Friday’s ceremony at the White House, Johnson and President Trump were joined by one of the president’s spiritual advisors, Dr Robert Jeffress, who is the senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Dallas.
Pastor Jeffress offered a prayer for Johnson and the President and used the occasion to share the gospel with those in attendance, including several Washington journalists:
“Father, we thank you for the remarkable story of Alice Johnson, a strong believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, whose life was filled with heartache and injustice and yet instead of becoming bitter she chose to trust in You. She cried out to you for years asking for relief for the hurt that she was feeling.
We thank You that You chose to answer her Prayers to You through a great president named Donald Trump. A great leader who yes believes law and order, he believes in justice, but he also believes in mercy. Thank you for moving in his heart to do this great act today.
Father, I pray that today’s full pardon will result in a brand new life for Alice. Continue to bless her and her family as they go throughout this nation and world sharing the good news that, you God, offer an eternal pardon from sin to all who trust in your Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Again we thank you for the president, thank you for the example he set for all of us of what it means to be a forgiving person.
We pray this in the name of the one who came and died and rose again, that we might have eternal life, Jesus Christ our Savior. It is in His name that we pray, Amen.”
