Kim Kardashian back at White House to talk criminal justice
It’s “Keeping up with the Kardashians: Washington, DC.”
Reality-TV queen Kim Kardashian returned to the White House on Thursday for an event promoting efforts to help ex-felons return to the workforce.
“All right guys, I am heading to the White House to speak at the ‘second chance hiring and reentry’ event,” the 38-year-old mogul posted in an Instagram video. “I’m so excited to announce some exciting things.”
In another Instagram post, the mother of four wrote that she was “honored to be part of the announcement that the administration and the private sector are stepping up to create opportunities” for ex-cons.
The event follows the passage of the First Step Act, which has allowed more than 1,000 prisoners to receive reduced sentences.
Since President Trump signed the First Step Act in December 2018, his administration has been working to make sure the inmates released early have the tools and jobs they need to adjust to life outside prison.
“We’re bringing Americans who have been on the sidelines back into the workforce, including former inmates,” Trump said during the Second Chance Hiring event. “America wins when citizens with a criminal record can contribute to their communities as law-abiding members of our society.”
“When former inmates come home the single most important action we can take is to help them find a really really good job, where they love the job and they’re making a lot of money,” Trump added.
The president said his administration is aiming to cut the unemployment rate for former inmates down to the single digits within five years.
He announced that the Federal Bureau of Prisons will begin to work with employers to help those leaving jail have a job lined up when they get out and the expansion of the Pell Grant Pilot program so more inmates can take college classes.
Coming up to the podium in front of a crowd of about 100 people, Kardashian said she decided to “make a difference” after traveling to prisons and meeting with inmates.
“The one thing I realized that needed so much support, was the reentry of people coming home and seeing the lack of support that really existed,” Kardashian said.
The TV-personality also announced a partnership with unnamed rideshare companies that would give formerly incarcerated people gift cards so they can take cars to and from job interviews.
“Seeing the compassion that [Trump] has had from criminal justice reform has been really remarkable,” she added.
Kardashian has been to the White House several times to chat with the president about criminal justice reform. She successfully lobbied Trump to pardon Alice Marie Johnson, who was serving a life sentence without parole for a nonviolent drug offense.
She also quietly bankrolled a successful campaign to free 17 federal inmates serving life sentences for low-level drug crimes.
With Post wires
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