Oval Office
2:10 P.M. EDT
THE PRESIDENT: So, thank you very much everybody. Alice Johnson has been just incredible. She’s gotten out; she’s recommended people to us. She knows many, many people that have put — been put in prison, and — whether they should have been or not. She knows that they were put in for too long.
Alice was given a life sentence.
MS. JOHNSON: Yes.
THE PRESIDENT: And you spent about 22 years?
MS. JOHNSON: Yes.
THE PRESIDENT: And — for something that, today, a lot of people wouldn’t even be going to jail for. And it was — it was horrible. And we found out about it. And we gave a commutation; that means we were able to get Alice out. And she has been just so outstanding, and I’m so proud of you.
And we’re giving Alice a full pardon. I just told her. We didn’t even discuss it. We just — you were out there; I saw you in the audience last night. And I asked the folks if you could bring Alice over, and we’re going to give a full pardon. We’re going to do it right now.
That means you have been fully pardoned. That’s the ultimate thing that can happen. That means you can do you whatever you want in life. And just keep doing the great job you’re doing.
Alice had done an incredible job since she’s been out, and — recommending other people. We said, “How many people are they like you?” There’s only one Alice, as far as I’m concerned. But how many people are like you or your circumstance, where they were given this massive sentence? And they’re good people, great people. And she said, “So many. They’re in jail. So many.”
And she’s looking for those people, and she’s recommending those people, and we’ve already done some that you know — that you know are good people. And they’ve done really well since they’ve been out.
So we’re taking Alice from a commutation to a full pardon, and I’m going to sign it right now. And we’re very proud of Alice and the job you’ve done —…