Who would have thought that Kim Kardashian-West would be on the forefront of criminal justic reform in America? That would be political commentator Van Jones, who credits the reality TV maven for ushering in a major step forward in the fight for criminal justice reform.
Like many on Capitol Hill and in the rest of U.S., Jones is celebrating Wednesday’s (Dec. 18) passage of the First Step Act, which the Senate voted on 87-12. While the bipartisan bill will be reviewed by the House at a later date, ultimately it will reportedly help “decrease recidivism rates among federal prisoners who make up a reported 10 percent of America’s prison population.”
Christmas Miracle!! #FirstStepAct is through the Senate!! This is HUGE. I shared why I am so excited about this bill on @CNNTonight. @cut_50: I am so proud to be doing this work with all of you. #FirstStepAct #criminaljusticereform #cut50 #winning pic.twitter.com/NqgZdW6SPV
— Van Jones (@VanJones68) December 19, 2018
Jones, who has been actively lobbying for the bill’s passage, tips his hat to Kardashian and credits her for this major leap of progress. He says that the First Step Act wouldn’t have been passed if she hadn’t channeled her star power into the cause, and urges doubters of her impact and influence to “look at the scoreboard now.”
“If Kim Kardashian had not gone to the White House and talked to Donald Trump, we would not have passed this bill,” Jones told TMZ. “We would not have 50,000 people fewer in federal prisons because of this bill, 100 percent of people who are locked up in the federal prisons can come home a little bit earlier if they stay out of trouble, 50 percent of them can come home a lot earlier if they work hard, 100 percent of women are not going to be shackled and mistreated. Why? Because Kim Kardashian was willing to put her celebrity on the line for people she didn’t even know.”
Hear all of Jones’ glowing praise of Mrs. Kardashian-West below.
READ MORE: Senate Passes Criminal Justice Bill Benefitting Federal Prisoners