US Vice President Kamala Harris will host reality TV star and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian at the White House on Thursday to discuss criminal justice reform after President Joe Biden pardoned more people convicted of non-violent drug crimes.
Biden pardoned 16 people on Wednesday, pardoning 11 and commuting the sentences of five others. The four pardoned will join the event on Thursday, said a White House official, who did not want to be named, according to Reuters.
Harris is focused on convincing non-white and young voters to give her and Biden a second, four-year term at a time when many voters are unhappy with their handling of the economy, persistent inflation and the war in Gaza.
The United States incarcerates more people than any other country.
One fifth of the 1.9 million people are behind bars for a drug-related offence.
African-Americans and Latinos are much more numerous among incarcerated people, and drug law reform has the broadest support among young voters. African-Americans, Latinos, and young voters tend to favor Democrats.
Kardashian first became an activist for criminal justice reform during the administration of former President Donald Trump.
Since taking office, Biden has commuted the sentences of 122 people and pardoned 20 people who committed non-violent drug crimes, the White House said.
In December, Biden granted categorical pardons to thousands of people convicted of marijuana use and possession in Washington.
