Kim Kardashian tweets Trump in hopes to stop execution of Brandon Bernard
Brandon Bernard was originally sentenced to life in prison for disposing the evidence of a double homicide.
In recent years, Kim Kardashian-West has used her platform to fight for criminal justice reform and help in the release of individuals who were wrongfully incarcerated. The reality star’s current focus is on the case of Brandon Bernard, who will supposedly be executed today (Dec. 10).
At 18 years old, Bernard received a life sentence without the possibility for parole for ridding the evidence in a carjacking that ended in the murders of Pastor Todd Bagley and his wife, Stacie. After a 17-year delay in the case, the Trump administration reportedly announced Bernard would be killed under the plan to “speedily execute five people” before the president is out of office.
On Wednesday (Dec. 9), Kardashian-West took to Twitter to ask the president for a stay of execution in Bernard’s case. “Brandon Bernard, a 40-year-old father is going to be executed tomorrow by our federal government. Having gotten to know Brandon, I am heartbroken about this execution,” she tweeted. “I’m calling on @realDonaldTrump to grant Brandon a commutation and allow him to live out his sentence in prison.”
The star then provided a list of reasons why she believes Bernard’s life should be spared. She explained:
“1. He was 18 at the time. 2. He was not the shooter. 3. The prosecutor and 5 of the jurors now support clemency. 4. He’s spent decades in prison w/out a write up, helping at risk youth. 5. There’s bipartisan support for his commutation.”
Kardashian-West first announced her opposition of Bernard’s execution last week in a slew of tweets that brought attention to his case. In her initial request to get his scheduled death commuted to a life sentence, she mentioned that Bernard only destroyed evidence following the gunman’s orders and the presumption that the passengers had already passed away. “Brandon believed both were dead, though Stacie was not, and was fearful for his own life, so he made the terrible decision to comply,” she tweeted at the time.
Kardashian-West’s recent attempt at getting in touch with Trump is not far-fetched. The Hollywood star previously appealed to the president during a White House meeting that aided in the release of Alice Marie Johnson, who was serving a life sentence for her involvement in a Memphis cocaine trafficking organization.