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Kim Kardashian West opens up about 'mission' to free Alice Johnson in exclusive interview

Kim Kardashian West and Alice Johnson sat down with TODAY's Hoda Kotb for their first joint interview since Johnson's commutation from life sentence in prison.
Hoda Kotb, Alice Johnson, and Kim Kardashian
Hoda Kotb, Alice Johnson, and Kim Kardashian WestNathan Congleton/TODAY
/ Source: TODAY

A week after being released from prison, Alice Marie Johnson came face-to-face for the first time with Kim Kardashian West and thanked her for the pivotal role she played in getting President Trump to commute her life sentence.

The two had an emotional meeting before sitting down with TODAY exclusively for their first joint interview since Johnson’s release from a federal prison. The 63-year-old inmate had served more than 21 years for nonviolent charges related to drug possession and money-laundering.

Kardashian West learned about Johnson’s story last year and declared it as “so unfair” in a tweet to her 60 million followers. The reality television superstar then decided to take up her case.

“Because I knew that I had the resources to do that. It became this mission that I just didn't want to give up,” she told TODAY’s Hoda Kotb.

“I mean, I think to some people it might seem like, ‘Okay, Kim made a phone call to the president, showed up.’ We had been in talks and working on this for seven months. And it wasn't an instant thing. It was a lot of work."

Kim Kardashian and Alice Johnson
Kim Kardashian West and Alice Johnson embrace after recalling the journey that led to Johnson's commutation from a life sentence in prison. Nathan Congleton/TODAY

Johnson admitted that she had no idea who Kardashian West was when she first learned the television star had started championing her cause.

“As soon as I found out who she was, I started getting every magazine I could find,” she said. “I started reading everything that I could about her. And everyone was amazed. And I was amazed, too.”

A call to Ivanka Trump, the president’s daughter and adviser, eventually led to a May 30 Oval Office meeting where Kardashian West pleaded for clemency on behalf of Johnson. A week later, President Trump commuted Johnson’s life sentence.

“Ms. Johnson has accepted responsibility for her past behavior and has been a model prisoner over the past two decades," the White House said in a statement.

Kardshian West was the one who broke the news to Johnson in a phone call, telling her, “You can go home now.”

“When she said that, I went into full-fledged Pentecostal holy dance,” Johnson recalled. “I started screaming and jumping.”

Kardashian West said she can imagine herself continuing to work on behalf of others with stories similar to Johnson's.

"People have been asking me are you getting into politics? Like no. I'm still doing me. But I enjoy this," she said. "This has fulfilled my heart and so since I feel so fulfilled, why would I stop that?"

Johnson said she not only feels grateful to Kardashian West but protective of her. She keeps a photo of the reality star and her husband, Kanye West, in her bible.

A photo of Kim and Kanye inside Alice Johnson's bible
Johnson keeps a photo of Kim Kardashian West and Kanye West inside her bible.Nathan Congleton/TODAY

“Right now, my prayer of focus for you was in Psalm 105. ‘Touch not my anointed and do my prophet no harm,’” she said. “Kim has been anointed to do this. And no one better not touch her — even with their mouth.”

Johnson said she plans to thank Kardashian West, and President Trump, by setting an example through the way she will live the rest of her life.

"'Thank you' is not big enough. I think I have to walk it out. I have to walk my 'thank you' out. I have to live it out for her, for my family, for the supporters," she said.

Johnson also plans to speak out on behalf of other nonviolent, first-time offenders.

"I plan on continuing to magnify this issue. And I can't stop. I can't stop. I've lived it," she said. "I've walked with them. I have cried with them. My life is completely intertwined forever with those who were left behind. So it can't end here."