Inmate Cyntoia Brown thanked many people after the governor of Tennessee granted her executive clemency and guaranteed her release from prison, but Kim Kardashian was not one of the people mentioned.
Kardashian had tried to get involved in Brown’s case back in 2017 after learning of the woman who had been sentenced to 60 years in prison for killing a man who she claimed was using her as a sex slave.
The reality star had public attention to Brown’s case, and even enlisted her own legal team to try and free the young woman from behind bars, however it was to no avail.
Fortunately, Governor Bill Haslam also felt the sentence for Brown was too harsh, and on Monday morning he granted the 30-year-old woman clemency.
A statement from Haslam’s office reads, “Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today granted executive clemency to Cyntoia Denise Brown by commuting her sentence of life imprisonment. She will be released to parole supervision on August 7, 2019, after serving 15 years in prison.”
It continues, “imposing a life sentence on a juvenile that would require her to serve at least 51 years before even being eligible for parole consideration is too harsh, especially in light of the extraordinary steps Ms. Brown has taken to rebuild her life.”
After the ruling was made, Brown said, “Thank you, Governor Haslam, for your act of mercy in giving me a second chance. I will do everything I can to justify your faith in me.”
She also thanked the Tennessee Department of Corrections, her professors, her family and legal team. Kardashian was not one of the people mentioned, but it’s possible Brown will get to the reality star after the initial shock of being granted clemency wears off.
As we previously reported, Kardashian has met with President Trump to discuss prison reform, which eventually led to the commuting of a sentence for first-time drug offender Alice Marie Johnson.
Even though she wasn’t mentioned, Kim is still excited for the ruling, tweeting, “?????? Thank you Governor Haslam ??????.”
Cyntoia Brown’s full statement:
“I want to thank those at the Tennessee Department of Corrections who saw something in me worth salvaging, especially Ms. Connie Seabrooks for allowing me to participate in the Lipscomb LIFE Program. It changed my life. I am also grateful to those at the Tennessee Department of Corrections who will work with me over the next several months to help me in the transition from prison to the free world.
Thank you to Dr. Richard Goode and Dr. Kate Watkins and all of you at Lipscomb University for opening up a whole new world for me. I have one course left to finish my Bachelor’s degree, which I will complete in May 2019.
I am thankful for all the support, prayers, and encouragement I have received. We truly serve a God of second chances and new beginnings. The Lord has held my hand this whole time and I would have never made it without Him. Let today be a testament to His Saving Grace.
Thank you to my family for being a backbone these past 14 years.
I am thankful to my lawyers and their staffs, and all the others who, for the last decade have freely given of their time and expertise to help me get to this day.
I love all of you and will be forever grateful.
With God’s help, I am committed to live the rest of my life helping others, especially young people. My hope is to help other young girls avoid ending up where I have been.
Thank you.”
