Vice President Kamala Harris was joined by Kim Kardashian at the White House on Thursday to discuss the use of pardons and criminal justice reform, one day after the Biden administration announced it was granting clemency to 16 people convicted of non-violent drug crimes.
Four of those who received pardons this week joined Harris, Kardashian and White House Director of Public Engagement Steve Benjamin for the roundtable in the Roosevelt Room.
The vice president kicked off the nearly one hour-long discussion — which also marked the administration’s Second Chance Month — by thanking the four individuals for sharing their stories as well as Kardashian for using her platform “in a way that has really lifted up the importance of talking about and being dedicated to second chances.”
“I'm a big believer in the power of redemption,” the vice president said. “ It's an age-old concept that transcends religions but is fundamentally about an understanding that everybody makes mistakes.”
Harris hailed the administration’s work in the space, including expanding pell grants for people currently incarcerated and spending nearly a billion dollars on job training and reentry support. The vice president also used the convening to announce the administration finalized a rule that aims to remove most restrictions on small business loan eligibility based on a person’s criminal record.
“But is it not the sign of a civil society that we allow people a way to earn their way back and give them the support and the resources they need to do that?” Harris said on Thursday.
Kardashian recalled sitting in the Roosevelt Room for her “first clemency meeting,” noting it "inspired" her. The businesswoman and reality TV star, who has become outspoken on criminal justice reform, visited the White House multiple times during former President Donald Trump’s four years in office to highlight the same issue.
“I’m so honored to be here to continue this fight and to learn more every day, every visit, every administration," she said. "I’m just here to help and to spread the word."
She later spoke about the “hurdles and obstacles” that come at “every step of the way” for formerly incarcerated people once they are released.
Kardashian thanked Harris for her commitment to second chances and President Joe Biden for “all of the commutations and the pardons that are happening.”
Biden on Wednesday announced his administration was pardoning 11 people and reducing the prison sentences of five others who were convicted of nonviolent drug offenses. Most of those granted clemency would have received significantly shorter punishments under current sentencing practices, the White House said.
The move, according to the White House, brought the total number of individuals who have seen their sentences commuted under the Biden administration to 122. The administration has pardoned 20 individuals.
The four who participated on Thursday — Jesse Mosley, Bobby Darrell Lowery, Jason Hernandez, and Beverly Holcy — took turns sharing personal stories around the table, including the moment they found out they were receiving a pardon.
“Overwhelming gratitude for being one of the few that they did pardon,” Mosley said when telling his anecdote.
“I’m sitting at the table with the VP and Kim K,” he remarked a few lines later, appearing to emphasize the turn of events.
The vice president, at this point, said she wanted to interject, telling Mosley “it didn’t just happen. You made it happen.”
Last month, the vice president hosted a similar roundtable with Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, Grammy nominated rapper Fat Joe and people who received pardons for previous marijuana convictions to discuss marijuana reform.
“Many of you have heard me say, I just don't think people should have to go to jail for smoking weed,” the vice president reiterated on Thursday.
Spectrum News' Ryan Chatelain contributed to this report.